In the run-up to the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has initiated the transfer of funds directly into the bank accounts of women beneficiaries under a state government scheme. An amount has already been credited to the accounts of 1.31 crore beneficiaries.
In Chennai, the state government transferred ₹5000 directly into the bank accounts of 1.31 crore women beneficiaries. The payment has been made in advance for February, March and April under what the state government has termed the Women’s Rights Grant.
The tenure of the state government is set to conclude on May 10, and Assembly elections are proposed in April.
The scheme, known as the Kalaignar Women’s Rights Scheme, provides eligible women with financial assistance of ₹1000 per month. On this occasion, the government released three months’ assistance in advance and added a ₹2000 “Summer Special Package,” resulting in a total transfer of ₹5000 directly into beneficiaries’ accounts.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, in a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), stated that the scheme represents a concrete step towards strengthening women’s rights and said it would not be discontinued under any circumstances. He also said that if his government returns to power, the monthly assistance would be increased from ₹1000 to ₹2000.
Since 2023, direct cash transfer schemes for women have been implemented in several states. In Madhya Pradesh, the Ladli Behna Yojana marked the beginning of this approach. Similar schemes were subsequently introduced in Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Delhi and Bihar.
In Jharkhand, Chief Minister Hemant Soren implemented a comparable scheme and pledged to increase the assistance upon returning to power. Following the election, he implemented the proposed increase.
Experts state that transferring funds directly into women’s bank accounts promotes financial inclusion and may strengthen women’s economic independence and participation in household decision-making. Critics, however, state that such schemes could increase fiscal pressure and should be balanced with long-term economic planning. In a state the size of Tamil Nadu, providing regular financial assistance to 1.31 crore beneficiaries constitutes a significant budgetary decision.
