Actor-turned-politician Vijay on Saturday announced a series of welfare initiatives aimed at women, families and students as part of his party’s policy vision during International Women’s Day celebrations organised by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

Speaking at the party event in Mamallapuram in Tamil Nadu, the TVK chief outlined several proposals that his party would implement if it comes to power. Vijay said women’s safety, welfare and financial independence would be key priorities for his party, stressing that crimes against women would face a strict response.

Declaring “Zero tolerance for crimes against women,” the actor-politician said TVK would introduce programmes focused on financial assistance, public safety, education and social welfare.

Financial assistance and welfare schemes for women

Among the key proposals, Vijay promised a monthly assistance of ₹2,500 for women who head their families until the age of 60. The benefit, however, would not be available to households where a member is employed in the state or central government.

He also announced plans to distribute sanitary pads free of cost to women through ration shops as well as educational institutions such as schools and colleges, a move aimed at improving access to menstrual hygiene products.

Another major welfare measure is the “Annapurani Super Six” scheme, under which every family would receive six LPG cylinders free of charge each year. Vijay criticised the current trend of cooking gas price reductions during election periods, saying the scheme would provide consistent relief from household fuel costs.

The TVK chief also proposed the “Annan Seer Thittam”, which would provide eight grams of gold and a silk saree to women at the time of their marriage. He described it as a symbolic contribution from “their brother Vijay” to mark the occasion.

Safety measures and governance reforms

Vijay said a separate government department dedicated to the welfare and safety of women, children and elderly citizens would be created and would function under his direct supervision.

He also proposed a set of safety measures, including the installation of ‘smart panic buttons’ in public transport vehicles such as buses and share-autos. These would be connected to a centralised monitoring system.

Another initiative, called “Zero Dark Spots”, aims to ensure widespread installation of CCTV cameras and a centralised surveillance network in public spaces to improve safety for women.

In addition, Vijay announced plans for a specialised police unit named after freedom fighter Rani Velu Nachiyar to focus on women’s safety. He also proposed the creation of fast-track courts to speed up the handling of cases involving crimes against women.

Transport, economic support and education

Addressing public transport, Vijay said women would be allowed to travel free of cost in all categories of government buses if TVK forms the government. He criticised the existing scheme in the state, saying it is currently limited to certain buses, which forces women to wait for those services to avail the benefit.

The TVK leader also announced interest-free financial assistance of up to ₹5 lakh for women’s self-help groups to encourage entrepreneurship and strengthen livelihoods.

Alongside women-focused initiatives, Vijay outlined measures for children and education. Under the “Thai Maaman Thanga Mothiram Thittam”, every child born in Tamil Nadu would receive a gold ring along with a “baby welcome” kit containing food, clothes and diapers.

To tackle school dropouts caused by financial hardship, he proposed the “Kamarajar Kalvi Uruthi Thittam”, which would provide an annual assistance of ₹15,000 to the mother or guardian of students studying from Class 1 to Class 12.

Vijay said the initiative aims to ensure that no child leaves school due to economic difficulties.