Tiruppur, April 14
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam President Vijay, on Tuesday, outlined a series of ambitious welfare measures targeting weavers, farmers, MSMEs and government employees during an election campaign rally in Tiruppur, a key textile hub in western Tamil Nadu.
Addressing the gathering, Vijay greeted the people of the Kongu region and announced that his party would release its full election manifesto in book form on April 16.
Ahead of that, the TVK Chief chose to highlight select "priority promises" aimed at addressing long-standing concerns in the region.
Focusing on the struggling textile sector, Vijay said his government would create a dedicated e-commerce brand to help weavers sell their products directly in international markets.
He also promised an annual financial assistance of Rs 30,000 to every family owning handlooms or powerlooms to offset rising input costs and electricity challenges.
Among other key assurances, the TVK Chief pledged free electricity up to 500 units for handloom units and 1,500 units for powerlooms, along with a 50 per cent subsidy on yarn and dyes to reduce production costs.
He also announced a Rs 10 lakh life insurance cover for all weavers and an increase in their monthly pension to Rs 3,000.
Highlighting the burden of power tariffs on small industries, Vijay said peak-hour electricity charges for MSMEs would be temporarily suspended, and a 100 per cent electricity tax waiver would be provided for five years to support revival in the textile sector.
Turning to agriculture, Vijay promised a complete waiver of farm loans for farmers owning less than five acres of land, and a 50 per cent waiver for those with larger holdings.
He also proposed increasing the procurement price of paddy to Rs 3,500 per quintal and sugarcane to Rs 4,500 per tonne, along with an annual assistance of Rs 10,000 per farmer family.
On governance, Vijay assured that the old pension scheme for government employees would be considered, while temporary staff with more than five years of service would be regularised.
He also vowed to eliminate corruption in promotions and ensure transparent transfers in the police department.
The TVK leader additionally promised a salary hike for police personnel, welfare hospitals, and improved facilities for women officers.
Concluding his speech, Vijay urged voters to trust him, assuring that his promises were genuine and not misleading, and appealed for support to bring what he described as a "whistle revolution" in Tamil Nadu politics.
- IANS
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