File photo of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. (Press Trust of India)
From baby care kits in August to cement bags in September. Cement is the new item added by the Jayalalithaa government in Tamil Nadu to its long list of Amma-branded subsided products.
The state already has subsidized salt, canteens, seeds, medicines and most recently grooming kits for newborns made available at heavily discounted rates, courtesy Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, who is fondly referred to as Amma or mother by her many fans.
Under the new scheme announced today, the state government will procure 2 lakh tons of cement from private manufacturers and will sell a bag of cement for Rs 190 to the poor. The market rate is Rs 310 per bag of cement.
Each person with an approved building plan or approval from the local body can procure up to 750 bags at concessional price for building up to 1500 sq.ft. Those who require cement for renovation or repair too can avail upto 100 bags.
Amma cement will be made available at 470 godowns owned by the Tamil Nadu Cement Corporation and Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies. Women self help groups are to be roped in to sell cement at outlets run by the District Supply and Marketing Societies.
Ms Jayalalitaa's schemes like the Amma canteens where hot idlis are sold for one rupee each have been a huge success. Her party, the AIADMK, won a massive mandate in state elections in 2011 and Ms Jayalalithaa returned for her third term as chief minister of the state.
Since then she has clearly cemented her popularity, winning 37 of the state's 39 Lok Sabha seats in national elections held in May this year.