On day 1, Edappadi clears 5 files, orders closure of 500 TASMAC shops

Two days after winning a vote of confidence motion in the Assembly, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami got down to work on Monday and announced a slew of schemes and measures such as grant of subsidy to one lakh working women every year for the purchase of mopeds or scooters and the closure of 500 more liquor shops.

Late Jayalalithaa had announced closure of 500 Tasmac shops on May 23 after she took over as Chief Minister for the sixth time.

The Chief Minister signed two other files – construction of houses for fishermen and increasing the assistance given to unemployed youth. The five new schemes now announced would cost the exchequer an additional Rs 676 crore per year.

The proposed plan include doubling of the monthly allowance for unemployed youth. Palanisamy added that as many as 55, 228 youth would be benefitted by this scheme. This would incur an additional expenditure of Rs 31 crore to the State Exchequer.

Palaniswami said the announcements were aimed at fulfilling the promises made by former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa at the time of the Assembly polls in 2016.

Announcing yet another pro-women scheme, the chief minister said the maternity assistance being given to the women belonging to poor families would be hiked from Rs 12, 000 to Rs 18,000.