Vijay unveils free LPG cylinder scheme for women-led households

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has announced a major new welfare measure offering three free cooking-gas cylinders every year to eligible women-headed households, while also expanding the state’s free bus travel scheme for women, The Indian Express reported.

Announcing the ‘Annapoorani Super Six’ Scheme in the Assembly on Monday, Vijay said it would cover around 1.30 crore families and cost the state approximately Rs 4,000 crore annually. The scheme, unveiled by his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government, is set to begin during Pongal in January.

The announcement adds another large-scale women-focused welfare programme to a string of initiatives launched since the four-month-old government took office. Vijay said funds had already been allocated for schemes including the Singappen Special Rapid Action Force, Thai Maaman Gold Ring, Vetri Women’s Goat-Rearing and Annan Seer programmes, with implementation underway.

Vijay also outlined a longer-term Vetri Vision Plan, setting targets for government programmes during its first, third and fifth years in office, with women’s welfare featuring prominently in the agenda.

The chief minister linked the LPG assistance to shortages and rising cooking gas prices amid the ongoing conflict in the Gulf region. He said households had been forced to spend more on alternative fuels and increasingly expensive cylinders, adding to their financial burden.

Despite acknowledging the state’s financial constraints, Vijay said the government had chosen to implement its election promise to ease household expenses. Under the first phase, eligible women heading households will receive three cylinders annually through the new scheme.