Welfare measures in focus as TN govt presents budget

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu finance minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan tried to achieve a balance between welfarism and fiscal prudence while presenting his third consecutive budget for the state on Monday

- Divya Chandrababu

The budget pushed the envelope on welfare measures, a hallmark of Dravidian politics, while seeking to improve rather than worsen the state's public finances. And its political messaging was focused on blaming the opposition AIADMK for allegedly presiding over economic mismanagement during its two consecutive terms in power ending 2021 and the central government for not giving the due share of the states and undermining fiscal federalism.

The DMK-led government has launched a cash transfer programme Magalir Urimai Thogai (MUT; women's rights assistance) which will give ₹1,000 per month to women in eligible households. With an allocation of ₹7,000 crore in the budget, this means 5.8 million women in the state could receive ₹12,000 per year. There were 18.5 million households in Tamil Nadu according to the 2011 census.