Women empowerment means families benefit: PM Modi in Chennai during Jayalalithaa's 70th birth anniversary

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched the Amma Two-Wheeler scheme in Chennai. The project is the AIADMK government's ambitious scheme of providing 50 per cent subsidy to working women to buy two-wheelers.

A pet project of late chief minister J Jayalalithaa, the Amma two-wheeler Scheme is being launched on her birth anniversary.

Speaking to the audience in Chennai, PM Modi greeted the people first in Tamil before delivering his address. "On the occasion of the birth anniversary of J Jayalalithaa, I pay my tributes to her and extend my greeting and best wishes to the people of Tamil Nadu. Wherever she is, I am sure she will be very happy to see the joy in your faces," he said.

Expressing delight in launching the Amma Two Wheeler Scheme, PM Modi said that this initiative will go well in the empowerment of women. "When we empower women, we empower the household. When we provide them education and health and secure her future, we do so for their home. As the Central government, we are working in this direction," he said.

I am glad to be able to launch one of her dream projects – the Amma Two Wheeler Scheme. I am told that on Amma's 70th birth anniversary, 70 lakh plants will be planted across Tamil Nadu.
These initiatives will go a long way in the empowerment of women & protection of nature: PM

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) February 24, 2018

Speaking of the Central government's schemes and programmes, PM Modi said that the goal was to make lives easy for the people of India. "This is the basic mantra with which the NDA government in the centre is working. Over Rs 11 crore has been sanctioned under the Pradhan Mantri Yojna. Rs 4.6 lakh crore has been given to those without bank guarantee, and the most important thing is that 70% of the beneficiaries are women. This shows that women are coming out and focusing on self-employment," he said. 

"We have also made a change in the Factory's Act & suggested to States that they allow women to work in the night shift as well. We have also extended maternity leave from 12 to 26 weeks. Under the PM Awaas Yojana, the registry of the House is done in the name of the woman," the PM said.

He said the Central government had come with a gobar dhan scheme to convert biowaste into gas. "More than Rs 24,000 crore are being implemented in Tamil Nadu. These include solar power plants, crude oil pipelines, national highways, etc. More than Rs 3,700 crore has been sanctioned for the Chennai Metro," he said.

He also blasted the Congress for not donating enough to the state, saying that the NDA government had increased its funding to Tamil Nadu by 120% compared to what the UPA government had done.

When there was a Congress-led Government at the Centre, Tamil Nadu had received Rs 81,000 crore under the 13th Finance Commission. After the NDA came to power, Tamil Nadu received Rs 1,80,000 crore under the14th Finance Commission: PM

— PMO India (@PMOIndia) February 24, 2018

Earlier, a life-size statue of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa was unveiled and the ruling AIADMK's official Tamil daily launched today at the party headquarters here on her 70th birth anniversary, which was celebrated by party cadre across Tamil Nadu.

"It was honorable Amma who took Tamil Nadu on the path of development, be it education or help to poor, all schemes were focused to uplift people. Water harvesting was a great initiative which is widely appreciated. Govt of Tamil Nadu continues to be inspired by the principles of Amma. This Amma two wheeler scheme is proposed election manifesto by our Amma. PM Had close relationships with her: O Panneerselvam, Deputy CM #TamilNadu at Amma Two-wheeler scheme launch in Chennai," said CM E Palaniswami.

Chief Minister K Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam, who are also AIADMK coordinators, unveiled the bronze statue of the late leader at the party headquarters here.

They also launched the party's official Tamil daily 'Namadhu Puratchi Thalaivi Amma,' (Our Revolutionary Leader Amma) on the occasion.

'Dr Namadhu MGR,' which was founded by Jayalalithaa and previously was the official Tamil daily of the AIADMK, is now aligned towards sidelined leader T T V Dhinakaran and V K Sasikala, who is in jail.

A festive mood was palpable at the party headquarters on the occasion of Jayalalithaa's birth anniversary, the first such event after Palaniswami and Panneerselvam came together, easing out Sasikala and her kin Dhinakaran from the party last year.

The statue of Jayalalithaa, with a rose garland and the party's two-leaves symbol in her right hand, was unveiled near the one of AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran, which was also decorated.

As the statue was unveiled, firecrackers were burst and sweets distributed among party cadre who raised slogans hailing Jayalalithaa. Several events, including community feasts and distribution of aid to the needy, were held by party functionaries and cadre across the state.

Similar events were also held by rival leader Dhinakaran.

At Ambasamudram in Tirunelveli district, gold rings were presented to babies born today at a government hospital there