Chennai: TVK-led Tamil Nadu govt on Thursday deposited 1,000 each into the bank accounts of around six lakh students under the Tamil Pudhalvan and Pudhumai Penn schemes, signalling a continuity of the DMK regime’s welfare outreach. However, the state govt said it required more time to restructure the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam (KMUT) under which women beneficiaries received 1,000 monthly assistance. This has sparked criticism from DMK president M K Stalin, questioning the need for restructuring the scheme.In an official statement, chief minister C Joseph Vijay said the govt needed time to restructure the scheme and that the May 2026 assistance amount would be credited directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts soon. But no date was mentioned in the statement.Stalin sought the reason for the delay in the disbursal. “You (Vijay) said in the assembly that the welfare schemes of the Dravidian-model govt would continue. You had in fact promised to provide 2,500 a month. But you are delaying even the 1,000 payment. Is this the change you promised?” Stalin posted on X.The development comes days after allies of DMK, including Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), demanded during the assembly trust vote that welfare schemes introduced by the previous govt should continue without disruption. Replying to the debate before winning the trust vote earlier this week, Vijay promised members that welfare schemes would continue under the new administration.
