Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay announced on Wednesday that his government will provide every legislator in the state an official vehicle and a monthly ₹ 1-lakh allowance for fuel, maintenance and driver expenses, saying that the number of first-time MLAs who don’t have their own vehicles has significantly increased. As many as 110 MLAs are first-timers.
Assembly Speaker JCD Prabhakar said the scheme has been announced for all MLAs. In a suo motu response to Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi ( VCK ) MLA LE Jothimani’s request on August 12 for a vehicle—as he found it difficult to travel to the Secretariat every day—the CM said several MLAs don’t own a personal vehicle, making it difficult for them to inspect and review constituency work.
He said the decision was made to help the MLAs take up constituency development work.
Now, how will they fulfill this promise? Annadurai asked. “The value of human life should never be determined by their income. New Delhi: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C.
In a parallel decision, the TVK government expanded its flagship Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme from the current ₹ 5 lakh to ₹ 25 lakh per year. Earlier reporting noted: Tamil Nadu MLAs to get cars, Rs 75,000 monthly: Why these perks for super-rich lawmakers in debt-ridden state? Joseph Vijay has announced government cars for all 233 sitting MLAs, along with a monthly allowance of Rs 75,000 for drivers, fuel and maintenance. The move comes even as the state faces a debt burden of Rs 13.18 lakh crore and rising interest payments.
“I am pleased to announce that vehicles will be provided by the government to all members of the legislative assembly,” the CM said. “The government running an honest administration without bribery must fulfil the basic needs of its members,” he added. Meanwhile, DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai said, “The TVK government wants to splurge public money on luxury, which is not a priority.””The CM said that the state coffers were wiped out when he took charge as the CM. Former DMK MLA and medical wing secretary Ezhilan said the government should provide vehicles only to those who do not own one. “Those MLAs who declared in the election affidavit that they own a vehicle should not be given a vehicle,” he said. Our government is firm in its stance that the divide between the privileged and the underprivileged should not exist in the health care sector,” CM Vijay said. “Healthcare is not a privilege; it is the fundamental right of every human being,” he said. Earlier reporting noted: He said the vehicles would help legislators travel across their constituencies, meet residents, monitor development projects and coordinate with government officials. He also said the initiative would support transparency and corruption-free governance. Earlier reporting noted: The government said several members of the assembly are first-time legislators and some come from modest financial backgrounds. Vijay said they may not have the resources or logistical support needed for extensive travel as elected representatives.
