CHENNAI: AIADMK’s manifesto for the April 23 Tamil Nadu assembly poll, which was released by party general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday, promises free refrigerators for all rice ration card holders in the state. The 297-promise manifesto under 31 heads has a mix of welfare measures and populist schemes aimed at multiple voter segments.The party has promised to double the monthly assistance under the women’s scheme from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000, while also announcing a one-time family relief of Rs 10,000 to cushion the impact of rising prices. It has promised free bus travel for men, extending the existing benefit for women. The manifesto also promises three free LPG cylinders every year for each ration card holder and a complete waiver of education loans. Palaniswami had announced some of these poll promises during his election campaigns. The party promises to increase medical reservation for govt school students from 7.5% to 10% who clear NEET. In the healthcare sector, IVF treatment would be brought under the chief minister’s health insurance scheme.The party has promised free Wi-Fi facilities at all tourist destinations to boost tourism infrastructure. Additionally, households installing solar panels would receive a subsidy of up to Rs 30,000 for a 1 kW unit.An anti-drug task force would be established to curb ganja and other contrabands in the state. The salary ceiling for print and television journalists would be removed to enable them to benefit under the pension scheme, while crop loans availed by farmers through cooperative societies would be waived. The manifesto promises a compensation of Rs 25 lakh to fishermen who die during fishing expeditions.On agriculture, the MSP for paddy would be fixed at Rs 3,500 per quintal, and steps would be taken to ensure a remunerative price of Rs 4,500 per tonne for sugarcane.
