CHENNAI: AIADMK General Secretary Jayalalithaa was sworn in as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister by Governor K Rosaiah at the Madras University's Centenary Hall along with twenty eight others, who will serve as her Cabinet colleagues. Not one to waste time, Jaya sprung into action shortly after assuming office, and signed a file reducing the business hours of state-run liquor outlets managed by the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) by two hours, daily.
Liquor shops across the region will now only be opened between 12 noon and 10 pm as opposed to the current 10 am and 10 pm. All Tasmac shops in the state will work only for 10 hours instead of 12. The manifesto has promised to impose a liquor prohibition step by step. Along with the lowering of the hours, 500 Tasmac shops will also be closed. Amma has also signed an order to waive farm loans pending as of March 31, 2016. "All types of loans taken by small and medium farmers from banks, cooperative banks, loans taken on crops, short and long term loans will be waived. This will cost Rs 5780 Crore for the governments' exchequer," said an official press release.
From now on, 100 units of power will be available free to all domestic consumers in the state. More than 78 lakh consumers will get first 100 units free. It will cost Rs 1,607 Crore annually and the state government will pay the amount to Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Company (Tangedco). The chief minister has also signed an order to increase the free gold scheme for the marriage of poor girls from 4gms to 8gms, amongst others.
