Chennai

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday announced that his government has deposited ₹5,000 each into the bank accounts of 1.31 crore women beneficiaries under the Kalaignar Women’s Entitlement Scheme, a move that triggered sharp criticism from opposition parties, which termed it an outcome of “fear of defeat at the hustings.”

The Chief Minister also said the monthly assistance under the scheme would be doubled to ₹2,000 if the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is voted back to power in the forthcoming Assembly elections.

In a video message posted on X, Stalin said ₹5,000 had been credited in one instalment as an advance covering three months, along with an additional special grant, amid what he described as attempts by “vested interests” to stall the scheme citing the election schedule. He said the decision was taken to ensure that women do not miss out on the assistance during the summer months.

Appealing to beneficiaries to use the money judiciously for their children’s education, medicines, and other essentials, Stalin expressed confidence that the DMK would return to power. He recalled that when he assumed office in 2021, the state was grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic and a financial crisis allegedly inherited from the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) regime.

Despite criticism about feasibility, the Kalaignar Women’s Entitlement Scheme was launched in September 2023 with ₹1,000 per month for 1.13 crore women and later expanded to cover women heads of family holding ration cards, taking the total to 1.31 crore beneficiaries, the Chief Minister said. He added that the scheme’s popularity had inspired similar initiatives in other states.

However, the announcement drew flak from the opposition. Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami said the move reflected Stalin’s “fear of defeat.” In a post on X, Palaniswami claimed the DMK had delayed implementation of the scheme after coming to power and was now resorting to “election-time patchwork.”

Actor-politician Vijay, founder of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, questioned whether summer had arrived only this year for the government to announce a special grant and flagged the early disbursal of funds ahead of the usual date.

BJP leader and former Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan strongly condemned the announcement, alleging it was driven by electoral anxiety. T T V Dhinakaran, general secretary of the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, said even larger payouts would not save the DMK from defeat.

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In contrast, DMK ally Indian National Congress welcomed the move, calling it a genuine relief for poor and middle-class families hit by inflation. Tamil Nadu Congress Committee chief K Selvaperunthagai said the assistance recognised the hard work and self-confidence of women.