In the first hour after assuming office as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, the AIADMK supremo Jayalalitha on Monday green signaled a barrage of soaps for women and poor families as per the promises made in her election manifesto before the elections.

 

In her first decision, Jaya signed a file to order 20 kg of free rice for the poor and 35 kg of free rice for the very poor through the public distribution system every month.

 

Jaya also ordered free distribution of four-gram gold ‘Mangalsutra’ for all brides in the state as a government gift on the occasion of marriage apart from the Rs.25, 000 as marriage assistance. This financial assistance would be Rs.50, 000 to the brides who have a degree and diploma in any subject. Women working in state government will now get six months of maternity leave.

 

The other files she signed on the first day in her office related to the doubling of pension to Rs.1000 for the old, destitute, widows and differently- abled women and hiking of compensation paid to fishermen during the 45-day fishing ban period.

 

Above all, the merciful Amma has constituted a new department to be headed by a minister to monitor the implementation of the promises made in the AIADMK manifesto.

 

The chief minister, after signing the above files, said she would soon pay a visit to Delhi to meet the Prime Minister and other Central leaders to discuss developmental issues related to the state.

 

 

Thousands of people including women, senior citizens and children lined up on the roads in Chennai in the hot sun on Monday to take a look at Purachi Talaivi when she left from her residence in the Poes Garden to the Madras University campus to take her oath as the new chief minister.

 

Two giant screens were installed outside the venue so that people could view the swearing-in ceremony.