Chennai: The state govt on Monday issued an order for implementing its flagship “Annan Seer” scheme and allotted ₹812 crore as the first instalment for this year.The scheme will come into effect from Monday, said social welfare and women empowerment department secretary Pallavi Baldev in the order. The scheme is one of the key poll promises of chief minister C Joseph Vijay.The govt has, however, has fixed an annual income ceiling of ₹2.5 lakh for the bride’s family to become eligible for the scheme, as against ₹5 lakh ceiling promised in TVK’s election manifesto. Under the scheme, eligible brides will be given an eight-gram, 22-carat gold coin along with a silk saree.The GO described “Annan Seer” as an expression of the govt’s “love, affection, protection and responsibility” towards young women getting married, in keeping with Tamil tradition and culture. It noted that around five lakh marriages take place in the state every year. The scheme is being implemented from the current financial year to convey the govt’s role as an “elder brother” to young women getting married, the order said.However, the reduction in income ceiling effectively excludes families earning between ₹2.5 lakh and ₹5 lakh a year from a benefit promised to them in the manifesto. The GO does not explain the reason for fixing this eligibility ceiling.The govt will float an open tender under Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tenders Act, 1998, for procuring the gold. The price of the gold will be determined based on the rate published by India Bullion and Jewellers Association on the day of procurement, the GO said.
