Jayalalithaa offers 20 litres of water, 20 kg of free rice to BPL families in poll bound Tamil Nadu

Chennai, Mar. 24 (ANI): All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader J Jayalalithaa on Thursday opened her poll bag of freebies that more than matched the ruking Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party's (DMK).

If DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi promised free mixies and grinders to women, Jayalalithaa offered both, plus a fan to each woman in the state.

The AIADMK manifesto also promised to provide three-phase power connection across the state in four years.

It said that all families living below poverty line (BPL) would be given 20 litres of water daily and 20 kilograms of rice free.

The DMK has offered 35 kilograms of free rice.

Jayalalithaa also promised free laptops to all class XI and class XI students, and college students, besides four free sets of uniforms and a pair of shoes for schoolchildren.

The DMK manifesto had promised laptops for first year students SC/ST, MBC and BC.

The AIADMK manifesto proposes to set up a students' protection force to guard children against attacks and trafficking.

For the financially weaker sections, the manifesto promises free houses of 300 square feet each, costing Rs.1.8 lakh, to three lakh BPL families.

Other promises for rural areas include 60,000 cows for 6,000 families increasing milk production from 2.5 million litres to 10 million litres.

Families below the poverty line will also get four sheep.

Women's self help groups will get loans of up to Rs.10 lakh, with a waiver of 25 percent.

Pregnant women have been promised Rs.12, 000 during four months of maternity leave.

Marriage assistance for poor women would be enhanced to Rs.25, 000, with a four-gram gold coin as a special gift. For those women with a diploma, the wedding assistance would be Rs.50, 000.

All persons above the age of 58 will be given free passes to travel by bus across districts. The AIADMK manifesto has also offered shelters for senior citizens.

The AIADMK has offered a special protection force and an assistance of Rs.4, 000 each during four lean months. (ANI)