Principal opposition DMK and treasury benches today sparred in the Tamil Nadu Assembly over distribution of marriage assistance in the form of gold for mangalsutra, to women beneficiaries.
DMK legislator P Seethapathy, participating in the debate on demand for grant to the social welfare department, alleged that there was delay in distribution of assistance under the "Thalikku Thangam," (gold for mangalsutra) scheme.
Since AIADMK assumed power in 2011, the Tamil Nadu government is implementing the plan to help indigent parents conduct the marriage of their daughters, whereby a four gram gold coin was provided.
From 2016, when AIADMK retained power, an eight gram gold coin was provided.
The gold plan also includes a cash assistance of upto Rs 50,000 for eligible beneficiaries.
Social Welfare Minister V Saroja rebutted the charge and reeled out statistics, saying Rs 4,680.58 crore was spent in 2011-18 under the plan. During the DMK regime (2006-11), however, financial assistance for marriage was only Rs 1061.75 crore, she said.
Denying any delay, the Minister outlined norms to get the assistance like online application 40 days before marriage and submission of documents and said the assistance under the scheme was being provided on seniority basis.
AIADMK veteran and school K A Sengottaiyan alleged that the DMK regime did not even give a trace of gold for marriage assistance.
Chief Minister K Palaniswami claimed that in the country's history, only "Amma," (late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa) had the heart to give gold for marriage assistance.
Saroja earlier told the House that under five marriage assistance schemes of the Tamil Nadu government, 10,25,838 beneficiaries were benefited between 2011-12 and 2017-18.
Winding up the debate, the Minister said that as part of efforts to further encourage Anganwadi centres and to ensure better standards of health and nutritional care, four centres from each of the 32 districts were selected for ISO Grading and Accreditation during 2017-18.
"The ISO certifying agencies have awarded ISO certification to 128 Anganwadi centres," she said.
On the Nutritious Meal Programme for school students, she said the approved expenditure per banana would be increased to Rs 3.50 from the present Rs 1.25, benefiting 12,946 students who do not eat egg.
Through 43,205 centres across the State, the NMP reaches as many as 51,96,780 beneficiaries.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)