Vijay's 'gift' leaves MLA singing his praises in assembly

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has unveiled a significant support package, including official vehicles and a monthly allowance, to empower MLAs in addressing public grievances and enhancing governance at the grassroots level.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Wednesday announced official vehicles and a monthly allowance to the MLAs to address public grievances in their respective constituencies.

His announcement made the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam legislator K Sindhu break into rapturous glee, singing a song in praise of Vijay and thanking him for the gesture. 

Among a series of announcements made on the floor of the Assembly, Vijay also increased the medical insurance cover to Rs 25 lakh per annum from the current Rs 5 lakh under the Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme. Medical and surgical treatment services for transgender individuals will be additionally provided at seven government medical college hospitals, he said.

The chief minister, Speaker J C D Prabhakar and the members in the assembly were pleasantly surprised and smiled when the nervous first-time MLA Sindhu from Gudiyatham constituency sang in a mellifluous voice.

Vijay turned to look at the 'singer-legislator' and could not restrain himself from smiling at the musical expression when she sang a few lines of the song: Koduthathellam Koduthaan, from the 1964 movie of M G Ramachandran -- Padagotti.

The philosophical song on divine equality was sung by T M Soundararajan and penned by lyricist Vaali.

Empowering MLAs For Better Constituency Service

Later, the Speaker clarified that the chief minister's announcements applied to all the MLAs in the 234-member House.

Making an announcement under Rule 110 in the assembly, Vijay said the new support measures consisting of a vehicle and an allowance for the MLAs will help them travel across their constituencies to address public grievances and monitor government projects without depending on others.

In order to support administrative tasks and vehicle maintenance, the government will provide Rs 75,000 per month as vehicle maintenance allowance, including fuel and driver costs, and Rs 25,000 per month to hire a personal assistant to help manage constituency work.

He underscored that the announcement on perks for MLAs is in alignment with the TVK regime's goal of corruption-free, transparent, good governance. Necessary amendments will be made to relevant laws to give effect to the perks, he said.

'These measures are aimed at reducing the economic burden on the MLAs, improving transparency, and ensure that government services reach the grassroots level without corruption. Appropriate amendments will be made to formalise these directives,' Vijay said amidst loud thumping of tables in the House.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Wednesday announced that MLAs in the state will get a government vehicle and a monthly allowance of Rs one lakh--all for transparent, good governance.

Medical perks and advancements

Vijay also announced a hike in the procurement price of state-run 'Aavin' milk from Rs 38 to Rs 41 per litre, entailing an additional expenditure of Rs 360 crore per annum benefitting 3.16 lakh milk producers.

"I am happy to announce that the government will provide vehicles to all MLAs," he said, adding it would assist newly elected legislators, as well as those serving without financial means, in addressing public grievances.

Vijay also underlined that the government had received representations in this regard and Kattumannarkoil legislator L E Jothimani (VCK) also had made a request, and that she had pointed out about difficulties faced by legislators without "economic strength."

Even before winning polls, his party MLA-candidates had taken a pledge to be honest and they are functioning in accordance with that goal, he said.

Notably, the TVK government, on the basis of the principle of governance for the people following the path of honesty, is functioning with the objective of delivering graft-free, honest, and transparent administration down to the grassroots level, the CM said.

Vijay's announcement on vehicle and allowances made the ruling TVK legislator K Sindhu break into a rapturous glee, singing a song in praise of the actor-turned-politician and thanking him for the gesture.

Further, the seven state-run facilities where the services for transpersons will be provided are Chennai Stanley, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, Chengalpattu, Thiruvarur, Dharmapuri, and Kanyakumari under the Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme.

Outlining significant new initiatives to improve the state's healthcare system, the chief minister emphasised that medical care is a fundamental right, not a privilege, and the government aims to remove barriers to quality healthcare regardless of income or location.

To ensure easily accessible high-quality medical services to north Chennai people, a world-class "Multi-Super Speciality Hospital" with 400 beds will be set up in Perambur at an estimated cost of Rs 300 crore.

The Chief Minister's Cancer Care Mission will be upgraded with a budget of Rs 677.44 crore and additionally, a new integrated cancer treatment unit (G+4 floors) will be established at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai for Rs 471.80 crore, and five regional cancer centres will be established in districts including Thanjavur, Coimbatore, and Madurai.

Advanced equipment, including robotic surgery systems and linear accelerators, along with HPV DNA testing for women in specific districts to prioritise early detection (of high-risk types of human papillomavirus that may lead to Cervical cancer) and nutrition support, will be provided, Vijay said.