TN govt closes 500 more liquor shops

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Monday closed 500 liquor shops and announced a 50 per cent subsidy for 100,000 working women to buy twowheelers.

Speaking to reporters after signing five orders on his first day in office, Palaniswami said the orders were in line with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam manifesto during 2016.

According to the decision, the government will provide a 50 per cent subsidy or a maximum of ~20,000 to 100,000 working women to buy twowheelers. The scheme has been named Amma Two Wheeler Scheme, in memory of the late chief minister J Jayalalithaa. The government will allocate ~200 crore for this scheme.

As part of its policy to bring in complete prohibition, the chief minister on Monday signed an order to close 500 liquor shops. A similar number of liquor shops were closed in May 2016.

Commenting drought situation in the state affecting the farmers, the chief minister said the government would soon come out with an announcement to support the farmers. “You may agree that this is the worst drought the state is facing in 140 years, and we will support the farmers,” he added. However, he left the press conference without answering any more questions.

The Dr Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme, for pregnant women in the below-poverty-line group, would be increased from ~12,000 to ~18,000. The government has allocated additional ~360 crore for this. A scheme to build 5,000 houses for fishermen in the state has been approved with an allocation of ~85 crore. The monthly allowance for unemployed youth has been increased with an additional outgo of ~31 crore a year.

Palaniswami had on Saturday won a confidence motion, trumping a grouping led by O Panneerselvam, who was the caretaker chief minister after the death of Jayalalithaa.