Jayalalithaa Hikes Pension For Freedom Fighters, But No Word On Prohibition

Chennai: As Independent India turns 70 today, Tamil Nadu Chief minister Jayalalithaa announced a pension hike for freedom fighters and their families.

"To celebrate the sacrifice by freedom fighters, their pension will be hiked from Rs 11,000 to Rs 12,000 and the family pension of their the legal heirs would be increased from Rs 5500 to 6000," Ms Jayalalithaa said in her address to the people.

Currently, there are nearly 2000 freedom fighters living in Tamil Nadu.

The hike will cost the state exchequer roughly Rs 5.5 crore - a fraction of the budget allotted for the state government's welfare schemes. Ahead of the assembly elections held in May, the state had spent Rs 21,000 crores on freebies.

In her Independence day speech today, Ms Jayalalithaa also mentioned her government's focus on improving education. She said, "62 new colleges were opened in the state over the last five years. As a result, Tamil Nadu stands first in higher education with 44.8 per cent enrollment."

Those campaigning for prohibition, however, were disappointed. The Chief Minister made no announcement on closure of liquor shops and reduction of working hours of government owned liquor shops.

During her election campaign, Ms Jayalalithaa had promised to bring in phased prohibition - as is happening in neighbouring Kerala.  

Soon after assuming office in May, she announced the closure of 500 liquor shops and reduced the working hours in government liquor shops by two hours.

The state earns a revenue of around Rs 27,000 crore from liquor sale.