TN CM Vijay announces higher pensions, aid for freedom fighters, ex-servicemen

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay, in his maiden Independence Day address at Fort St George, raised monthly pensions for freedom fighters to Rs 23,000 and family pensions to Rs 12,500. Marriage assistance for ex-servicemen's daughters was doubled from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000, and monthly financial aid for differently-abled ex-servicemen and dependents was increased from Rs 5,000 to Rs 7,000. He also raised pensions for descendants of historical leaders Veerapandiya Kattabomman, Muthuramalinga Raghunatha Sethupathi, and the Marudhu Brothers to Rs 11,500. Vijay pledged a transparent, corruption-free administration and indirectly signalled that his government would oppose any central decisions against Tamil Nadu's rights or state interests.

The chief minister announced continuation and refinement of the Amma Unavagam canteen scheme and expansion of the breakfast scheme to Classes 6-8, to be launched on September 17. Listing achievements of his three-month-old government, Vijay said farm loans worth Rs 5,093.23 crore had been waived, 717 TASMAC shops closed, and 300 new buses added. The Thaaimaman Thanga Mothiram gold ring scheme will launch on September 15. He also presented the Thagaisal Thamizhar Award to former TNCC president M Krishnasamy and the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Award to diabetologist Dr V Mohan.