PM Modi launches Amma scooter scheme, says it will empower women in TN

CHENNAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched the Tamil Nadu government’s Amma scooter scheme and a massive tree plantation drive to commemorate the 70th birth anniversary+ of late chief minister J Jayalalithaa. Over one lakh working women will get scooters at subsidised rates.

Modi paid rich tributes to the departed leader. “I am sure she would be very happy to see the happiness on your faces,” he said, expressing his gladness in launching one of her dream projects. He said the scooter scheme would go a long way in the empowerment of women in the state. Empowerment of women would mean empowerment of the entire family, he said.

The Prime Minister highlighted the programmes rolled out by his government in the last four years for the welfare of women. They included extending maternity leave from 12 weeks to 26 weeks.



The Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana scheme benefited 31 crore people in the country, out of whom 16 crore were women. The Swachh Bharat Mission launched by the ministry of urban development to provide sanitation had given women respect and dignity, he said.

“We work in a mission mode to provide toilets to girl children in all government schools,” Modi said. The Centre has also provided 3.5 crore free LPG connections under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana to provide smoke-free environment and reduction of kerosene use. In Tamil Nadu, 9.5 lakh women benefited from it.

The Prime Minister sought to convey that the Centre’s interest in the state by stating that Rs 24,000 crore worth projects had been implemented in the state. “All have begun after the NDA came to power -- solar power panels, rural pipelines and national highways. More than Rs 3,700 crore was sanctioned for Chennai Metro Rail,” he said.

The Tamil Nadu government received Rs 81,000 crore under the 13th finance commission when the UPA was in power at the Centre, whereas it received Rs 1.8 lakh crore after the NDA came to power, which is an increase of 120%. “Under the rural housing scheme, Tamil Nadu was sanctioned Rs 700 crore in 2016-17 and Rs 200 crore in 2017-18. Under the urban housing, the Union government sanctioned Rs 6,000 crore,” Modi said.

The Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (crop insurance scheme) had sanctioned Rs 2,700 crore and offered Rs 750 crore to fishers under deep sea fishing project, he said.