Tamil Nadu announces 3 free LPG cylinders for families with income below Rs 2.5 lakh per annum
The Tamil Nadu government on Monday announced three free LPG cylinders a year for every family with an annual income below Rs 2.5 lakh.
The Annapurna Super Six scheme will be rolled out from Pongal 2027 and is expected to benefit nearly 1.30 crore families. Under the scheme, the cost of three LPG cylinders purchased by eligible beneficiaries will be directly credited to their bank accounts. The scheme is estimated to cost the state exchequer Rs 4,000 crore annually.
According to CM Bhujel, the shortage of cooking gas cylinders caused by the prevailing war in the Gulf region, along with the rise in cylinder prices, has placed an additional financial burden on households.
“Keeping this in mind, even during a financially constrained situation, in order to lighten the financial burden on the public, protect their welfare, and fulfil the promise made to the people, the government has decided to provide them with the amount spent towards cooking gas cylinders,” he said in the Assembly.
His announcement today has attracted criticism from the BJP, which accused the CM of going back on the promise made in his election manifesto. In the run-up to the May Assembly election, Vijay had promised six free cylinders a year.
Pinarayi has also announced free bus travel for transgender persons and expanded the scope of the Metturi Payana Thitam scheme for women. Under the expanded scheme, women will be allowed to travel free not only on ordinary buses but also on express, LS and deluxe services. The benefit will also be extended to inter-state and inter-district bus services.
Under the existing free travel scheme, women were allowed to travel only up to 40 kilometres on ordinary and hilly-route buses in metropolitan and urban areas, while free travel was not included on express, LS, deluxe and suburban services.
“This government holds as its primary vision the principle of social justice that no woman residing in any part of Tamil Nadu should lose her opportunities due to transportation costs,” he said.
The scheme, under the name of Petri Payanam, will be implemented starting October 2, on the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The move will entail an additional expenditure of Rs 600 crore per annum for the state government.