Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin flags off ‘Thayumanavar scheme’ vehicles at Chennai on August 12, 2025. Under the scheme, ration items will be delivered at the homes of senior citizens aged above 70 years and persons with disabilities through the vehicles.
| Photo Credit: B. Jothi Ramalingam
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, on Tuesday (August 12, 2025), launched the ‘Thayumanavar Thittam’ that aims to deliver ration products at the doorsteps of over 21.7 lakh elderly citizens and disabled persons across the State. The scheme would be implemented in 34,809 fair price shops to benefit 20,42,657 citizens above 70 years of age and 1,27,797 disabled persons under the public distribution system (PDS).
The essential commodities from ration shops would be delivered at the doorsteps of the beneficiaries on the second Saturday and Sunday of every month. Minister P.K. Sekarbabu; legislators J.J. Ebenezer, R. Moorthy, R.D. Shekar, Thayagam Kavi, Joseph Samuel, A. Vetriazhagan and K.P. Shankar; Chief Secretary N. Muruganandam and senior officials participated in the scheme rollout event at Tondiarpet in Chennai.
“Instead of considering the additional expenditure of ₹30.16 crore [incurred] by the Cooperation Department [for delivery], we consider this as our duty to serve and protect the lives of the people,” Mr. Stalin said.
In a social media post, Mr. Stalin said the ‘Thayumanavar Thittam’ was among his favourite initiatives and contended this initiative was a role model for the country. He recalled having opened 2,394 ration shops during the past four years of the DMK government. There are 37,328 ration shops across Tamil Nadu.
“Only because we run the fair price shops efficiently in the footsteps of our Thalaivar Kalaignar [former CM M. Karunanidhi], Tamil Nadu remains a State without deaths due to hunger. We have taken efforts to further simplify the way ration shops could be used,” Mr. Stalin said.
The Chief Minister called upon officials and employees of the Cooperation Department to ensure the initiative is implemented to achieve 100% of its objective. “You should be considerate and kind to the elderly citizens and disabled persons who would be eagerly expecting your arrival.”
Mr. Stalin said his government did not think that announcing a new programme was sufficient but thought it was its duty to ensure the benefits of the programme reached the last beneficiary. “We have designed this initiative after realising the hardships faced by the elderly,” he said.
Published – August 12, 2025 01:53 pm IST
