CHENNAI: Reversing yet another scheme of the previous DMK regime, Tamil Nadu government today announced an expanded protection scheme for farmers under which those who have no support and are aged above 60 would receive a monthly pension of Rs 1,000.Making a suo motu statement in the Assembly, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa said the 'Chief Minister's Farmers Protection Scheme' was aimed at benefiting farmers and their families throughout their lifetime.The scheme would benefit farmers, aged between 18 and 65 years, owning wetland measuring not more than 2.5 acres and marshland measuring not more than five acres, she said.It would also benefit farmers and workers between this age group involved in the agriculture sector who are either daily wage labourers or those who have taken lease and their dependents, the Chief Minister said.The beneficiary farmer and his wife would get a maroon identity card and their dependents a grey card. Hitherto, only the head of the family had been given a card, she said.She also said that those wishing to pursue studies in ITIs, polytechnics, arts, law and engineering, medicine, agriculture, veterinary sciences and professional programmes would receive educational support ranging from Rs 1,250 to Rs 6,750 every year, even if they were getting other educational support.The scheme would also support farmers' wedding expenses with Rs 8,000 for men and Rs 10,000 for women. Farmers and workers over 60 years of age and with no support will receive Rs 1,000 as pension.Unlike the earlier scheme of the DMK regime, this one would not only cover the head of the family but his family members also in case of injury or death, Jayalalithaa said.She said the previous DMK government's scheme had "practical difficulties" in implementation and hence her government decided to bring in a new revamped scheme.
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