Social Welfare Minister Launches Pink Auto Initiative for Womens Safety in Chennai!
In a recent assembly session, Geetha Jeevan, the Minister for Social Welfare and Women Empowerment, announced several new initiatives. The government will provide a Rs 1 lakh grant to 200 women auto drivers and introduce pink autos at a cost of Rs 2 crore. These pink autos, operated by women, will be available at railway stations and bus stands within Chennai city limits. They will feature a helpline number and GPS tracking for safety, enabling police monitoring to ensure secure travel for women and children.
The minister also announced the forthcoming release of a policy for the LGBTQIA+ community. Additionally, the annual family income ceiling for eligibility in welfare schemes for women and girl children will be raised from Rs 72,000 to Rs 1,20,000. This change will apply to schemes like the EVR Maniammaiyar Ninaivu marriage assistance for daughters of poor widows and the Sathiyavanimuthu Ammaiyar Ninaivu free sewing machine scheme.
Moreover, under the differently-abled department, the assistance amount of Rs 2,000 will now be extended to 5,081 individuals with over 40% autism spectrum disorder, with a total allocation of Rs 12.20 crore.
