CHENNAI: The C Joseph Vijay-led TVK govt on Monday issued an order implementing its flagship “Annan Seer” scheme but narrowed the income eligibility promised in the party’s election manifesto, reducing the ceiling from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh a year. This is one of the main poll promises of TVK. While the manifesto had promised the benefit to brides from families with an annual income of less than Rs 5 lakh, the govt order restricts it to families earning up to Rs 2.5 lakh.Under the scheme, eligible brides will be given an eight-gram, 22-carat gold coin along with a silk sari. The govt has allocated Rs 812 crore for the scheme, with the amount sanctioned as the first instalment for the current financial year. The scheme came into effect on Oct 5.The income ceiling is not the only instance of a TVK poll promise being narrowed at the implementation stage. The party had promised six free LPG cylinders a year to every family under its “Annapoorani Super Six” scheme. However, the govt announced three free cylinders a year from Pongal 2027, with the scheme targeted at eligible households.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.However, the reduction in the income ceiling effectively excludes families earning between Rs 2.5 lakh and Rs 5 lakh a year from a benefit promised to them in the manifesto. The GO does not explain the reason for revising the eligibility ceiling, making the change significant in assessing how the govt has translated the poll promise into an operational scheme.The govt will float an open tender under the 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 the India Bullion and Jewellers Association on the day of procurement, said social welfare and women empowerment department secretary Pallavi Baldev in the order.
