Welfare Scheme
77 events, 1920 to 2026; 4 marked as turning points.
1920
Madras Corporation starts a school meal scheme
At a corporation school in Thousand Lights, the Madras Corporation started a breakfast scheme that foreshadowed Tamil Nadu's noon meal programmes.
1956
Kamaraj expands free schooling and midday meals
The Kamaraj government opened thousands of schools, extended free education and expanded free midday meals for schoolchildren.
1962
Madras State starts an old-age pension scheme
A monthly pension for destitute old people was introduced by the state, decades ahead of the national old-age pension of 1995.
1967
Annadurai's rupee-a-measure rice scheme
The first DMK government tried to supply rice at one rupee a measure, an election promise made during an acute rice shortage.
C. N. Annadurai becomes Chief Minister
C. N. Annadurai was sworn in as the first non-Congress Chief Minister of Madras State since independence, heading a DMK government.
1969
Kannoli Thittam free eye surgeries
The Karunanidhi government provided free eye surgeries for the blind under the Kannoli Thittam during its 1969-76 tenure.
M. Karunanidhi becomes Chief Minister
M. Karunanidhi succeeded Annadurai as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and later became president of the DMK.
1970
Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board created
The Karunanidhi government created the Slum Clearance Board to replace slums with tenements, later backed by a 1971 Act.
1971
Beggar rehabilitation scheme launched
On his birthday, Chief Minister Karunanidhi launched a beggar rehabilitation scheme and collected funds for it himself.
1972
Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation founded
The state set up the Civil Supplies Corporation to procure and distribute food grains and essential commodities.
1978
Oru Vilakku one-lamp electricity scheme
Under the 'one lamp' scheme, the MGR government supplied small homes with free electricity and an electric lamp paid for by the state.
1982
Nutritious Noon Meal Scheme launched
MGR's government expanded the school midday meal into a universal Nutritious Noon Meal Scheme for children across Tamil Nadu.
1983
Free dhoti and saree scheme for Pongal
The state began distributing free saris and dhotis to poor families for Pongal, a scheme that also provides work to handloom and power loom weavers.
1987
Dr Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme
Tamil Nadu began cash assistance for poor pregnant women, a pioneering state maternity benefit scheme named after Muthulakshmi Reddy.
1989
Moovalur Ramamirtham marriage assistance scheme
The DMK government started cash assistance for the marriage of daughters of poor families, named after reformer Moovalur Ramamirtham.
Karunanidhi announced an egg once every two weeks with the noon meal, the first step towards eggs on every school day by 2010.
1990
Free electricity for farmers announced
The DMK government announced free power for agricultural pump sets, extending a 1984 scheme for small and marginal farmers to all farmers.
1992
Cradle Baby Scheme launched against female infanticide
The Jayalalithaa government introduced the Cradle Baby Scheme, allowing parents to leave unwanted infant girls with the state anonymously.
Chief Minister's Girl Child Protection Scheme
The state began depositing money in the names of girl children in poor families to counter gender discrimination and keep girls in school.
1994
Construction Workers Welfare Board established
Using its 1982 Manual Workers Act, Tamil Nadu created a construction workers' welfare board financed by a cess on building activity.
1996
The Karunanidhi government introduced free bus travel for government school and college students and half fares for private institutions.
1997
Mahalir Thittam extends women's self-help groups statewide
The state funded Mahalir Thittam to form women's self-help groups in all districts, after an IFAD-assisted pilot in Dharmapuri from 1989.
First Samathuvapuram equality village inaugurated
The first Periyar Ninaivu Samathuvapuram, a housing colony where families of different castes live side by side, opened near Madurai.
1999
First Uzhavar Sandhai farmers' market opens in Madurai
Madurai hosted the first market of the DMK government's Uzhavar Sandhai scheme, where farmers could sell their produce straight to buyers.
2001
Free bicycles for higher secondary students
Free bicycles for higher secondary students were introduced by the Jayalalithaa government, and the scheme later reached every Class 11 student.
2002
Annadhanam free meal scheme in temples
Jayalalithaa launched free daily meals for devotees in 63 temples, funded by endowments from donors; it was later expanded to hundreds of temples.
2005
2005 Chennai floods and relief camp stampedes
Heavy north-east monsoon rain flooded Chennai, and two stampedes at relief distribution camps killed more than 50 people.
2006
The DMK government began distributing free colour television sets to families holding ration cards, a key 2006 election promise.
Anaithu Grama Anna Marumalarchi Thittam
A village development programme of the Karunanidhi government aimed to give every village panchayat basic infrastructure, including a library.
Free land distribution for the landless poor
At Tiruvallur, Karunanidhi began handing out free land to landless poor families, delivering on a DMK election pledge.
2007
Welfare board and department for persons with disabilities
In 2007 Tamil Nadu enacted a Welfare Board for Disabled Persons Act, and in 2009 it formed a separate Department for the Welfare of the Differently Abled.
2008
108 free emergency ambulance service begins
The state health department launched the free 108 emergency ambulance service, run in partnership with GVK-EMRI.
Transgender Welfare Board, first in India
Tamil Nadu set up India's first welfare board for transgender persons under the Social Welfare department.
Rice at one rupee a kilogram in ration shops
The Karunanidhi government cut the price of rice in public distribution shops to one rupee a kilogram.
2009
Kalaignar health insurance scheme launched
The state launched the Kalaignar Kapitu Thittam to give economically disadvantaged families free treatment in hospitals.
2010
Kalaignar Veettu Vasathi Thittam to replace huts
The DMK government launched a scheme to convert thatched rural huts into permanent concrete houses over six years.
Fee support for first-generation graduates
The state announced a scholarship to pay tuition and other fees of first graduates in a family who join professional courses.
2011
Free mixers, grinders, fans and livestock
The new AIADMK government began giving households free mixers, grinders and fans, and goats and cows to poor families.
Free rice for ration card holders
In her first public event of the new term, Jayalalithaa launched free rice for eligible ration card holders under the universal PDS.
Marriage assistance with gold for the thirumangalyam
Jayalalithaa revised the marriage assistance schemes to add 4 grams of gold for the thirumangalyam and raised aid for graduates to Rs. 50,000.
Chief Minister's Uzhavar Pathukappu Thittam
A farmers' security scheme gave registered landless labourers, small farmers and tenants cash help for education, marriage, death and old age.
Free laptop scheme for students
Students at government and aided schools and colleges started receiving free laptops from the AIADMK government.
2012
Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme
Jayalalithaa launched a state health insurance scheme for 1.34 crore families, replacing the earlier Kalaignar insurance scheme.
Pension scheme for destitute transgender persons
Jayalalithaa announced a monthly pension of Rs. 1,000 for transgender persons above 40 living in poverty.
2013
Amma Unavagam subsidised canteens open
The Chennai Corporation opened low-cost canteens selling idli for one rupee, later expanded across the state.
The state began selling one-litre bottles of drinking water for Rs. 10 at bus termini and on long-distance government buses.
2014
Jayalalithaa opened the first ten 'Amma' pharmacies to sell quality medicines at fair prices.
The Tamil Nadu Salt Corporation began selling low-priced iodised and fortified salt under the 'Amma' brand.
2015
Jayalalithaa announced low-cost comprehensive health check-ups in government hospitals and twice-weekly tests at primary health centres.
Amma Cement sold at half the market price
The state began selling low-priced 'Amma' cement at Rs. 190 a bag through Civil Supplies Corporation godowns, starting in Tiruchi.
Amma Baby Care Kit for newborns
Mothers delivering in government hospitals began receiving a free kit of 16 baby care items worth about Rs. 1,000.
2016
Free bus rides for senior citizens in Chennai
Senior citizens in Chennai were allowed ten free rides a month on ordinary city buses, using tokens issued by the transport corporation.
Crop loan waiver and 100 free units of household power
Back in power, Jayalalithaa cancelled the cooperative crop loans of 16.94 lakh farmers and made the first 100 units of household power free.
2018
Amma Two-Wheeler scheme for working women
Prime Minister Modi launched a 50 percent subsidy, up to Rs. 25,000, for working women buying scooters, on Jayalalithaa's 70th birth anniversary.
2020
Palaniswami inaugurated 630 'Amma mini clinics' for basic health checks, part of a plan for 2,000 clinics across the state.
2021
Rs. 12,110 crore cooperative crop loan waiver
Ahead of the 2021 election, Palaniswami waived crop loans from cooperative banks for about 16 lakh farmers after cyclones damaged crops.
Free bus travel for women in town buses
Among his first orders as Chief Minister, M. K. Stalin made travel free for women in ordinary state-run town buses.
Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam doorstep healthcare launched
The state launched a doorstep healthcare scheme for screening and treating non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.
Kalaignarin Varumun Kappom health camps relaunched
Stalin revived the Varumun Kappom preventive health camps of Karunanidhi's time, with 1,250 camps a year across the state.
A volunteer-led programme was launched to help school children recover learning lost during COVID-19 school closures.
Innuyir Kaappom: free emergency care for accident victims
The state began paying for the first 48 hours of emergency treatment of all road accident victims in Tamil Nadu, including in private hospitals.
2022
Naan Mudhalvan skill development scheme launched
Naan Mudhalvan, a state scheme offering students skills training and career guidance, set out to reach about 10 lakh young people annually.
Pudhumai Penn scheme for college girls
The state began paying Rs. 1,000 a month to girls from government schools who go on to higher education.
Chief Minister's Breakfast Scheme launched
Free breakfast for children in government primary schools began in Madurai and was later extended to all government primary schools.
2023
Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai launched
The state began paying Rs. 1,000 a month to more than a crore women heads of families.
2024
Kalaignar Kanavu Illam housing scheme
A rural housing scheme announced in the 2024-25 budget aimed to build eight lakh concrete houses and make Tamil Nadu hut-free by 2030.
Tamil Pudhalvan scheme for college boys
Stalin launched Rs. 1,000 a month for boys from government schools who go on to higher education, modelled on Pudhumai Penn.
2025
Mudhalvar Marundhagam low-cost pharmacies
Stalin inaugurated 1,000 'Chief Minister's pharmacies' selling generic and other medicines at discounts of up to 75 percent.
Kalaignar Kaivinai Thittam for artisans
Tamil Nadu launched its own credit-linked subsidy scheme for artisans in about 25 trades after declining to join the PM Vishwakarma scheme.
Ungaludan Stalin service camps
Stalin launched 10,000 camps to deliver over 40 government services and take petitions at people's doorsteps, starting in Chidambaram.
Nalam Kaakkum Stalin health camps
Health screening camps covering many medical specialties were rolled out across Tamil Nadu by Chief Minister Stalin.
Thayumanavar doorstep ration delivery
Ration items began to be delivered to the homes of over 21 lakh senior citizens above 70 and persons with disabilities.
Anbu Karangal support for orphaned children
The state began paying Rs. 2,000 a month to children who have lost their parents, to support their schooling.
2026
Ulagam Ungal Kaiyil free laptops for college students
Stalin launched a scheme to distribute 20 lakh laptops to students of government colleges, with 10 lakh in the first phase.
TVK government's cooperative crop loan waiver
Cooperative crop loans taken from May 2025 to February 2026 were waived by the Vijay government, a relief that eventually reached 14.43 lakh farmers.
Vijay government's first orders
On taking office, Chief Minister Vijay signed orders on free household electricity, a women's safety task force and anti-narcotics police stations.
Vettri Payanam expands free bus travel for women
Free bus travel for women was widened by the Vijay government to express and deluxe services, without any income ceiling or cap on journeys.