Synopsis: The Tamil Nadu government said it has disbursed ₹5,000 for women as part of the second phase of Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam.
The chief minister also hinted at increasing the amount if the DMK wins the upcoming Assembly elections.
Taking a page out of NDA’s playbook in Bihar, the DMK government in Tamil Nadu on Friday, 13 February, said it has disbursed ₹5,000 for women as part of the second phase of Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam (KMUT), announced on 12 December 2025.
The scheme, a part of the DMK’s 2021 Assembly election manifesto, was launched on 15 September 2023. The move comes on the heels of the Assembly elections in the state, which are due by April-May 2026.
Aiming at the BJP-led Union government, Chief Minister MK Stalin said that the former has been trying to stall the payment, citing the upcoming Assembly elections, adding that the state government would not back down from its promise.
“Stalin has promised the women of Tamil Nadu this royalty, which is their right. No matter who imposes obstacles, I will not back down from it. They are trying to freeze the royalty for three months, citing the elections. However, our Dravidian Model government has taken the initiative to support women,” he said in a post on X in Tamil.
Summer bonus included
According to the chief minister, the state government has disbursed a total of ₹5,000 for each beneficiary – ₹3,000 each for February, March and April, and ₹2,000 as a summer bonus.
“₹5,000 has been credited to 1.31 crore Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam beneficiaries this morning. ₹3,000 as an advance payment for the months of February, March, and April and ₹2,000 as a special summer package!” the chief minister said.
He also hinted at increasing the amount if the DMK wins the upcoming Assembly elections.
“We will win the upcoming elections with the support of Tamil women. In Dravidian Model 2.0, we will increase the royalty from ₹1,000 to ₹2,000! This is the promise that this Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin is giving to my sisters!” the chief minister added.
The move by Stalin is being seen as a counter to the Election Commission of India’s inaction during the Bihar Assembly election last year, when the NDA government in the state disbursed ₹10,000 for women under the Chief Minister’s Women’s Employment Scheme, even when the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) was in effect.