On Day 1, Jaya shuts 500 liquor shops

AIADMK supremo Jayalalithaa, who returned as Tamil Nadu chief minister on Monday, approved shutting of 500 liquor shops along with four other welfare schemes.

Jayalalithaa was sworn in as the chief minister for a record sixth time and assumed office immediately. Governor K Rosaiah administered the oath of office and secrecy to Jayalalithaa and 28 of her Cabinet members.

The schemes approved on her first day in office included 100 units of free electricity to households, waiver of farm loans, eight grams of gold as marriage assistance (a hike from four grams given earlier) and increase of free power being provided to weavers. Accordingly, loans availed by micro and small farmers from all cooperative banks till March 31 this year, will be waived off.

This will cost the exchequer Rs 5,780 crore. Every electricity consumer will get 100 units free electricity, which would cost the government Rs 1,607 crore.

According to the scheme, 100 units will be reduced from the total electricity consumption of a domestic consumer.

The AIADMK, in its election manifesto, promised that prohibition would be introduced in a phased manner, by reducing the working hours of liquor shops, close down the bars and the shops gradually, besides setting up de-addiction centres across the state. Starting Tuesday, liquor shops in Tamil Nadu will be opened by 12 noon instead of 10 am. Of the total 6,800 liquor shops, 500 will be closed with immediate effect.  In addition, Jayalalithaa also implemented the promise of increasing the free power for handloom weavers to 200 units and for powerloom weavers to 750 units.