Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026: Magalir Urimai Thogai scheme under spotlight

As Tamil Nadu Assembly elections draw closer, political parties across the state have intensified their campaigns, highlighting welfare schemes and promising increased financial support for households.

However, for many women working as daily-wage labourers, the immediate concern remains securing a stable livelihood.

A large number of these women are engaged in short-term or contract-based work, often with irregular employment. They say that unpredictable wages and rising living costs make it increasingly difficult to manage household expenses and support their families.

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Among the key welfare measures discussed during the campaign is the state government’s flagship Magalir Urimai Thogai Scheme, which provides monthly financial assistance to eligible women heads of households.

For some beneficiaries, the scheme has offered crucial financial relief and helped ease everyday expenses.

However, several women say strict eligibility criteria have left many deserving households outside its ambit. Some believe the programme could have had a wider impact if it had been designed to include more beneficiaries.

As campaigning intensifies ahead of the elections, the voices of daily-wage women workers reflect a complex ground reality—where welfare schemes provide support to some, but questions about accessibility, adequacy, and long-term livelihood security continue to shape voter sentiment.