Day 1: Jaya closes 500 Tasmac shops, signs freebie papers

Chennai: Soon after being sworn in as the chief minister, J Jayalalithaa drove to her chamber in Fort St George and signed five orders that were at the core of the AIADMK manifesto. The orders relate to loan waiver for farmers, free 100 units of power to all domestic consumers, shutting down 500 liquor shops and reducing working hours of shops, 8 grams of gold to poor women getting married, and 200 units of free power for handlooms and 750 units for powerlooms every two months.
Jayalalithaa waived some Rs 5,780 crore of crop and other medium and long-term loans taken by small and marginal farmers from cooperative banks.The AIADMK chief had argued with the Election Commission, in her reply explaining the rationale behind welfare promises in her manifesto, that the waiver would mitigate the debt burden of poor farmers, particularly in the context of floods in the last agriculture season. The move is applicable only to loans obtained from cooperative banks until March 31, 2016, not commercial banks. “CM's order will benefit nearly 17 lakh farmers across the state,“ a senior government official told TOI. The farmers of Cuddalore were among the worst hit in the floods.
Giving effect to another promise, Jayalalithaa signed an order providing 100 units of free power to 78 lakh domestic consumers. The government will offer Rs 1,607 crore subsidy to the state-run power utility Tangedco to compensate for this. “The announcement comes into effect from May 23,“ said a statement. In her reply to the Election Commission on this freebie, Jayalalithaa had said it was an extension of the scheme for supply of free power to huts in vogue for three decades.With the cost of inputs like imported coal coming down, the cost of free power offered by the government can be easily met, she had said.
While total prohibition of liquor was a major poll plank of the opposition, Jayalalithaa promised to bring it in a phased manner. On Monday , she took the first step by issuing orders to shut down 500 Tasmac outlets, and reduce the working hours of shops by two hours.From now on, the shops will remain open between noon and 10pm. “On Tuesday , Tasmac officials will meet to identify the shops to be closed. Those shops against which there were complaints and the ones located close to other liquor shops will be prioritised,“ said a senior government official. Tasmac runs 6,705 shops and a decision will be taken on accommodating in other outlets staff who may lose their jobs.
As part of the marriage assistance scheme, the previous AIADMK regime offered 4g of gold and Rs 50,000 to graduates and diploma holders, and Rs 25,000 for nongraduates getting married. The gold component has been increased to 8g.
Presently , handloom weavers are getting 100 units of free power whereas powerlooms get 500 units of free power. The present move to increase the free power allocation will benefit 2.4 lakh weavers in the state.