Women’s Entitlement Scheme Sparks Debate in Tamil Nadu Assembly

The DMK government is currently providing ₹1,000 per month as Women’s Entitlement Assistance. Ahead of the elections, the government credited ₹5,000 to beneficiaries’ bank accounts — including ₹3,000 for the next three months combined and an additional ₹2,000 as special summer assistance.

This move triggered a debate in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, with opposition leader Edappadi Palaniswami raising questions over the timing of the payment.

Speaking in the Assembly, Palaniswami said that the ruling party had announced the ₹2,000 summer assistance due to the rising election heat. He alleged that depositing the amount overnight had created fear among people that the move was election-driven. He pointed out that summer arrives every year and questioned why the amount was advanced now. While clarifying that no one opposes the Women’s Entitlement Scheme itself, he demanded an explanation for releasing the funds prematurely.

Responding to this, Minister A. V. Velu stated that since summer is approaching, people may incur additional medical expenses, which is why the ₹2,000 assistance was provided.

Later, Minister Geetha Jeevan recalled that even during M. Karunanidhi’s tenure, welfare schemes like free television distribution faced legal challenges. She announced that henceforth, ₹2,000 will be provided every summer to women beneficiaries. She also alleged that a BJP member had filed a case in the Supreme Court against the scheme, adding that the government had successfully countered those attempts.