Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government, led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, on Wednesday announced allocations exceeding ₹1,000 crore for a series of welfare schemes aimed at fulfilling key election promises made by the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) ahead of this year’s Assembly elections. The announcements were made during the presentation of the party’s maiden State Budget by Finance Minister N. Marie Wilson.

The Budget includes allocations for schemes providing gold coins and gold rings, free milch cows, subsidised livestock, enhanced assistance for fishing families and improvements to public transport infrastructure.

Gold coin scheme for brides

Presenting the Budget, Finance Minister N. Marie Wilson said the government would implement the ‘Annan Seer’ scheme, under which eligible women will receive an eight-gram gold coin and a silk saree as a wedding gift.

The minister said the Chief Minister views every woman in Tamil Nadu as a member of his family and described the scheme as a symbolic gesture marking one of the most important occasions in a woman’s life.

An allocation of ₹812 crore has been made for the scheme in the Revised Budget Estimates.

Gold ring for newborns

The government also announced the launch of the Thai Maaman Thanga Mothiram Thittam, under which every baby born in a government hospital will receive a one-gram gold ring.

Finance Minister Wilson said the initiative aims to encourage institutional deliveries in government hospitals while recognising the importance of maternal and child healthcare.

The scheme has been allocated ₹560 crore in the Revised Budget Estimates.

According to the minister, Tamil Nadu has one of the country’s lowest infant mortality rates at 11 deaths per 1,000 live births, while 99.9 per cent of deliveries in the state take place in hospitals, including more than 53 per cent in government hospitals.

Welfare support for vulnerable groups

The Budget also introduced the Vetri Magalir Goat Rearing Scheme, under which destitute widows, deserted women, transgender persons and persons with disabilities will receive a 100 per cent subsidy for five goats or sheep.

The scheme is expected to benefit around 30,000 people, with an allocation of ₹110 crore.

The government said the initiative is intended to strengthen livelihoods and improve economic opportunities for vulnerable sections of society.

Assistance for fishing community

The government has increased the lean season financial assistance for fishing families from ₹6,000 to ₹7,000 per family.

The enhanced assistance is expected to benefit approximately 1.93 lakh families, with a Budget allocation of ₹135 crore.

In addition, an interest subsidy will be provided for deep-sea fishing boats equipped with modern fish-processing facilities at a cost of ₹12 crore.

Free milch cows for rural women

To promote dairy farming and improve rural livelihoods, the government announced that 10,000 eligible women will receive free milch cows every year.

An allocation of ₹57 crore has been made for the programme.

The Budget also earmarks ₹4,880 crore for the Animal Husbandry, Dairying, Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare Department.

The Finance Minister said Tamil Nadu continues to hold a leading position nationally in milk production and procurement, and the scheme is expected to further increase milk output while supporting rural women.

Investment in public transport

The Budget also focuses on strengthening Chennai’s public transport network.

The government announced the procurement of 1,000 new air-conditioned electric buses for the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) under the Gross Cost Contract model.

An additional ₹500 crore has been allocated for electrical and mechanical infrastructure at bus depots to support the induction and maintenance of the new fleet.

Conclusion

The TVK government’s maiden Budget places significant emphasis on welfare initiatives, women’s empowerment, rural livelihoods and public infrastructure. With substantial allocations for election promises ranging from gold gifts to livestock support and transport modernisation, the government has outlined its priorities for the current financial year while signalling its focus on social welfare and economic development.