K. Kanimozhi. File | Photo credit: N. Rajesh
DMK Parliamentary Party leader Kanimozhi on Monday (30 March 2026) said there was an attempt to politicize welfare schemes as “freedoms”, even as economists across the world, including former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram, explained how such financial assistance acts as a stimulus to the economy.
Explaining various aspects of the DMK manifesto, she said that when people have money, it automatically increases their purchasing power and stimulates the economy. “Magalir Urimai Thittam, under which women are given ₹1,000, increases their purchasing power. Zero-cost bus travel has enabled women to travel in search of employment. The money the government spends on these schemes is a social investment. Only those who oppose social justice will oppose these schemes,” she said.
Reacting to the allegation that the DMK had copied the AIADMK manifesto, she said no one would take the AIADMK’s promises seriously as many of them had not been fulfilled. “AIADMK announced promises without realizing that these schemes are already being implemented by the Dravidian model government. Women are already getting ₹1,000 and the Chief Minister announced that it will be increased to ₹2,000. Now AIADMK has come up with the same promise,” she said.
According to her, the DMK manifesto has received universal acclaim. “The manifesto committee toured many districts and got views and suggestions from people from all walks of life. We have prepared the manifesto based on 80,000 ideas from experts from various fields. The chief minister is making sure that all the promises are realizable,” she said.
When asked how the DMK government would identify the beneficiaries for the Illatharasi scheme, under which women would be given a voucher worth ₹8,000 to buy or replace household appliances, she said the government was already providing ₹1,000 per month to 1,31 lakh women and it would not be difficult to identify the deserving beneficiaries.
Ms Kanimozhi said the aim of the scheme was to free women from time-consuming housework and give them more time to pursue their interests.
“When officials told Kalaignar (Karunanidhi, former chief minister) that single-stove gas could be distributed to women as the survey promise did not specifically mention single or double-stove, he said it was irrelevant as his aim was to help women leave the kitchen as quickly as possible,” she said.
Published – 30 March 2026 13:38 IST
