CHENNAI: The C Joseph Vijay govt’s maiden budget in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday played to two galleries — women and youth — while trying to balance fiscal discipline with welfarism.State finance minister N Marie Wilson’s budget sought to revive a discontinued free laptop scheme and announced branded bicycles with helmets for five lakh school students; it also promised Olympic centres at 10 places and an AI city.For women, it allocated Rs 560 crore under the ‘Thaai maaman seer,’ (1g gold ring for newborns as uncle’s gift); ₹812 crore for ‘Annan seer’ (brother’s gift of a silk saree and 8g gold for brides), Rs 354 crore for the ‘Singapenn’ task force for women’s safety, and ₹38,000 crore in loans for women self-help groups.Together, the measures underline the govt’s attempt to consolidate support among two electorally decisive vote blocs at a time when the state is gearing up for local body polls and byelections in six assembly segments.“Our chief minister sees every woman in the state as a member of his own family,” the FM said amidst desk-thumping by treasury benches.There was more for youth. Wilson said the govt would set up an AI CITY and introduce an AI industry development programme in higher education institutions. The initiative aims at training five lakh students from engineering colleges, arts and science colleges and ITIs over the next five years. “The CM aims at nurturing Gen Z into the finest generation,” Wilson said.
