Chennai: In a significant move to enhance economic support for women, tamil Nadu chief minister M.K. Stalin today launched the second phase expansion of the KalaignarMagalir Urimai Thogai (Kalaignar Women’s Entitlement Amount) scheme, extending monthly financial assistance to 17 lakh newly included women beneficiaries across the state.
About the Scheme
The KalaignarMagalir Urimai Thogai is a flagship social welfare programme of the tamil Nadu government aimed at empowering women by providing them with a monthly entitlement of ₹1,000 directly credited into their bank accounts.
Originally launched on September 15, 2023, by chief minister stalin, the initiative was conceived as a rights-based financial assistance scheme for women household heads, designed to acknowledge their contribution to family and society, and to improve their financial independence and living standards.
Major Expansion: New Beneficiaries Added
Under the latest expansion, 17 lakh women who successfully met the eligibility criteria have been added to the list of beneficiaries. This extension brings the total number of women entitled to receive the monthly grant to approximately 1.34 crore across tamil Nadu.
The inclusion process involved reviewing applications submitted through the “Ungaludan Stalin” camps, where women across districts applied to be part of the scheme. Authorities have selected women based on eligibility norms such as family income and other state guidelines.
Today’s event and Distribution
A formal function was held today, presided over by chief minister stalin at a venue in Chennai, where the expanded rollout for the newly added women beneficiaries was inaugurated. At the event, officials announced that the first installment of ₹1,000 will be credited to their bank accounts on the 15th of this month, marking the start of regular monthly disbursements.
Financial Outlay and government Commitment
The tamil Nadu government has invested heavily in implementing the scheme. In the first financial year after the programme’s inception, ₹7,926.35 crore was allocated, followed by ₹13,790.61 crore in 2024-25. So far, up to ₹9,121 crore has been released this year alone, bringing the cumulative expenditure on the scheme to over ₹30,800 crore.
Impact and Objectives
Officials and policymakers describe the expansion of the KalaignarMagalir Urimai Thogai as a major milestone in women’s economic empowerment. The scheme mainly targets women who head households and belong to economically vulnerable sections, offering them steady financial support that boosts their purchasing power and helps families manage essential expenses.
Beyond immediate financial relief, the programme is also seen as part of a broader agenda to strengthen women’s social and economic status, enhance gender equity, and enable greater participation of women in the local economy.
Government’s Broader Vision
The expansion of this entitlement amount reflects the tamil Nadu government’s ongoing efforts to widen its social welfare net as part of its governance commitments. Leaders have reiterated that eligible applicants who missed out due to technical reasons will be given additional opportunities to apply in the future.
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