COME September 15, the birth anniversary of former Tamil Nadu chief minister and DMK founder C N Annadurai, CM M K Stalin will launch the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai (Women’s Basic Income) scheme, promising a monthly stipend of Rs 1,000 to more than 1.06 crore eligible women. The scheme is a means to alleviate poverty and boost gender equity, as per the Tamil Nadu government. The launch, at Annaudurai's birthplace, Kancheepuram, is also an occasion for the DMK to underline its historical commitment to social justice. Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, and amidst a raging debate over its brand of politics vs the BJP's aggressive Hindutva, the launch could not be better timed. At a meeting at the Secretariat in Chennai Monday, Stalin said that the government had meticulously planned the scheme's rollout, and the funds would be credited directly into the beneficiaries’ bank accounts from the launch date. To facilitate easy withdrawals, ATM cards will be issued to beneficiaries with an interim provision for immediate cash withdrawal, before the cards reach everyone. While the initial budget allocation for the scheme is Rs 7,000 crore a year, the CM indicated that it would be raised to Rs 12,000 crore, with the current year’s budget not to be affected. Women with annual family incomes below Rs 2.5 lakh, land holdings not exceeding 5 acres (wetland) or 10 acres (dryland), annual household electricity consumption under 3,600 units, and aged above 21 years old are eligible. Destitute individuals, trans persons and families led by single women are also eligible. Those with incomes above Rs 2.5 lakh, government employees, those owning personal four-wheelers, and beneficiaries of certain social security programmes are excluded. The initiative, Stalin had said in the Assembly earlier, aims to acknowledge the invaluable and often under-appreciated contributions of women to society while providing them with financial aid. By supplementing their income, the government said it hopes to raise their standards of living and bolster their self-respect. Stalin said such universal basic income programmes could halve poverty rates, and that women, when empowered with additional resources, tend to prioritise children’s education, nutrition, medical expenses and even start small businesses. Recently, the Congress government in Karnataka also introduced a similar scheme. Following through on its poll promise, the party launched the Gruha Lakshmi scheme to provide women heads of families with Rs 2,000 per month. The government said it has allocated Rs 17,500 crore for the programme, for which 1.1 crore women have registered. In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP government extended its Ladli Bahna Yojana, under which women between the ages of 23 and 60 are eligible to receive Rs 1,000 per month. In Punjab, the AAP government is committed to giving all women older than 18 Rs 1,000 each month, though the scheme - announced in the run-up to the polls - is yet to be officially launched. In 2017, the Union government’s Economic Survey held that a universal basic income programme, particularly for women, could provide “the necessary material foundation for a life with access to basic goods and a life of dignity”, but the costs and implementation could prove to be challenges. Stalin said officials have been told to be prepared for any queries and complaints, especially from those whose applications are rejected, and ensure no one eligible is left out. Explanatory text messages are to be sent to unsuccessful applicants, in order to underline faith in the transparency of the government. As per the comprehensive guidelines laid down for the scheme, after electronic verification, eligible applicants are to be informed via SMS. Incomplete applications will be followed through with field verification, with officials conducting home visits to gather the necessary data. The reasons for rejections can also be accessed on the official website.
