CHENNAI: After coming back into power, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has begun to give out freebies like she promised. The first five signatures of hers, after she resumed office, were on files that dealt with prohibition, breakfast for government school students, free gold for women getting married, free power for handloom weavers and free power for domestic consumers. She also distributed free textbooks, notebooks and uniforms to students on June 1.
This is not the first time the CM has signed for free gifts for her people. It is reported that freebies in the state have ranged from free rice, colour television sets, mixer-grinders, fans and gold, to domestic animals. Stats say over Rs 11,500 Crore was spent on three freebies alone, in the last 10 years. The DMK promised free TV sets and rice, pushing the state debts over Rs 3600 Crore, in 2006. In 2011, Jaya added laptops for students, gold for brides, free fans, mixers, slippers, uniforms, stipends for students, mobiles and then the AMMA schemes of free salt, tea, water, etc, adds the daily.
With the list increasing every year, the state saw a high in their debts too. With a debt of Rs 1,01,349 Crore in 2011, Tamil Nadu's debt reached Rs 1,81,036 Crore by the end of 2014-15. When asked about it, state Finance Minister O Panneerselvam said, "The people are assured that our chief minister will take every possible step to ensure that they do not suffer the pain of high inflation."
