Chennai: After the Tamil Nadu government credited Rs 5,000 to women receiving the monthly women’s entitlement assistance, allegations have surfaced that ration shop staff are being used to pacify those who did not receive the amount.
The scheme has been providing Rs 1,000 per month to 1.31 crore women heads of households since September 15, 2023. On February 13, beneficiaries received Rs 5,000 in a single credit—Rs 3,000 as advance for February, March and April, and an additional Rs 2,000 as a summer special grant.
While the ruling DMK has projected the one-time Rs 5,000 credit as a major achievement, the report says around one crore women who did not receive it are angry with the government. It adds that the party became aware of the discontent through surveys and is concerned it could affect elections.
As part of efforts to address the issue, ration shop employees are reportedly calling women who missed the payment and asking them to visit the shop with required details. At the shop, they are asked whether they own a house, land or plot, have a car, whether any family member is a government employee, and what the household’s monthly income is.
A DMK functionary quoted in the report said dissatisfaction was limited when only Rs 1,000 was being paid monthly, but intensified after the Rs 5,000 lump-sum credit. The government, the functionary said, is planning to extend the benefit to eligible women by identifying them through ration shops and assuring payments from May.
