In Tamil Nadu, even people belonging to the poor and weaker sections of society can now quench their thirst with free-of-cost mineral water, thanks to a new initiative launched by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Saturday.
Amma, as she is addressed affectionately by her party cadre and people alike, launched Amma Kudineer Thittam (Amma Pure Drinking Water Scheme) which envisages to provide 20 litres of purified drinking water every day to families belonging to the poor and downtrodden sections of the society.
“The rich and affluent sections of the society can afford mineral water. People belonging to the poor and deprieved classes too have the desire to drink mineral water though they are not financially strong to afford the same. Hence I have issued orders to implement Amma Kudineer Scheme so that poor and deprived too get pure and purified drinking water,” Jayalalithaa said in a statement.
To begin with, the Government would identify 100 places with most number of poor people falling within Greater Chennai Corporation limits and establish water supplying points in these places. All families which meet the requirements would be provided 20 litres of “mineral water” free of cost every day.
Based on the response to the scheme, more such water supplying points would be launched and the beneficiaries would be issued smart cards, according to the statement by the Chief Minister. This could be a game changer in Tamil Nadu politics.