Stalin's Ration Card Scheme

Under the leadership of CM Stalin, the DMK regime has consistently championed the cause of women’s welfare. Notable initiatives, such as the free bus ride scheme and the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai Thittam, have already made a significant impact. Now, recognizing the needs of divorced and separated women, CM Stalin has unveiled a groundbreaking scheme to provide them with separate ration cards.

In many families, financial assistance, like flood relief or Pongal bonuses, often ends up primarily benefiting male family members, leaving female members underserved. To address this disparity, the government previously introduced the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai Thittam, which directly provided financial support to around 1.06 crore women.

To further bolster women’s welfare, CM Stalin has allocated 7,000 crores for the continuation of the Kalaignar Urimai Thogai Thittam. This scheme, initially introduced by the Karnataka government, recognizes the crucial role of women in families and aims to ensure that benefits reach the deserving recipients.

Previously, divorced and unmarried women faced barriers to accessing benefits like the Public Distribution System and fair price shops due to the absence of separate ration cards. However, the government has now shattered these barriers by issuing separate ration cards to divorced and unmarried women. Importantly, no cumbersome documentation is required to verify divorce; a simple request is enough to obtain a family ration card.

The response to this scheme has been overwhelmingly positive among women of all ages. One woman expressed her gratitude, saying, “This scheme ensures that women living alone can have a basic necessity, like 5 kg of rice, with ease after all they’ve been through. I wholeheartedly welcome CM Stalin’s initiative.”

Another woman pointed out the significance of ration cards not only as a means to access subsidized products but also as government-recognized address proof. “Now, women living alone can benefit from this change brought about by CM Stalin, for which we are eternally grateful.”

The impact of this scheme is far-reaching, as it empowers women who have faced challenges due to separation from their husbands. “Women’s position has advanced exponentially,” said a grandmother who runs a flower shop. “The period of women empowerment has found its roots in the DMK regime.”

Men and women alike have praised CM Stalin’s commitment to women’s welfare. “This is one of the revolutionary schemes introduced by CM Stalin,” two men returning from work noted. “It stands testimony to the promise made by CM Stalin that the government will stand by the victims and take care of them.”

A woman returning from work summed up the sentiment, stating, “The DMK government has shown more concern for women than previous administrations, introducing numerous women-centric schemes. My sincere thanks to CM Stalin for understanding the situation of women.”

Re-reported from the article originally published in The One India