Vijay government unveils welfare-heavy budget: Gold rings for newborns, gold and sarees for brides

CHENNAI: The first Budget of the Vijay-led Tamil Nadu government has unveiled a series of welfare measures, including a one-gram gold ring for every baby born in government hospitals, five regional cancer treatment hospitals, and marriage assistance in the form of gold and a silk saree for women from economically weaker families. Finance Minister N. Mari Wilson presented the government's maiden Budget in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Wednesday.

The minister announced that widows, destitute women, transgender persons and people with disabilities will receive five goats free of cost under a 100% government subsidy. The government has allocated Rs 110 crore for the initiative. The Budget also announced a new scheme, 'Thai Maman Thanga Modhiram', under which every baby born in a government hospital will receive a one-gram gold ring. A total of Rs 560 crore has been earmarked for the project.

Other key announcements in the Tamil Nadu Budget include:

• Women from economically weaker families will receive 8 grams of gold and a silk saree. The government has allocated Rs 812 crore for the scheme.
• The state will roll out 1,000 mobile healthcare units for senior citizens in phases. The scheme has been allocated Rs 33 crore.
• 'Thai Care' maternal support centres will be established to provide free meals, medical care and health monitoring for pregnant women. The initiative has received Rs 23 crore.
• A Hub-and-Spoke telemedicine system will connect specialist doctors with primary health centres and government hospitals. The project will begin with five hubs and has been allocated Rs 18.5 crore.
• The government will establish five regional cancer treatment hospitals. An initial Rs 10 crore has been allocated to prepare the detailed project report.
• An additional Rs 100 crore has been earmarked to ensure an uninterrupted supply of medicines for patients with hypertension, diabetes and cancer.
• The Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Breakfast Scheme has been extended to students in Classes 6 to 8. The government has allocated Rs 710 crore for the programme, which is expected to benefit 15.14 lakh students across 15,414 schools.