Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government has recently issued a G.O. relaxing the norms under the popular 'Amma two-wheeler scheme' for working women that is aimed at benefitting more women in the state.
Under the scheme, the women beneficiaries get a maximum of Rs.25,000 or 50 per cent of the cost of the two-wheeler, whichever is less. The balance cost has to be borne by the beneficiary through bank loan or other means.
Following a proposal sent to the state government by the Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women to amend some of the guidelines under the scheme, based on feedback received from respective district collectors, the government after consideration has accepted the proposal, the G.O. said.
Accordingly, the age-group of the beneficiaries, who should be a native and resident of Tamil Nadu, has been enhanced from the existing 18 -40 years to those under the age-group of 18-45 years. This would help bring more women under the ambit of the scheme.
Secondly, the earlier norm of the beneficiary having to have "appeared" for class 8th exam - irrespective of whether they have passed or failed- has been deleted in the amended G.O. The modified G.O. was issued on November 29, before the notification for the local bodies' elections was issued.
Instead, women working on special time scale of pay, whose annual income should not exceed `2.50 lakh, like anganwadi workers, helpers, noon meal organisers, cooks and assistants, women workers in cooperative societies/ shops and other women holding similar positions in various government departments, government undertakings, urban and rural local bodies, will all now be eligible for getting subsidy under the scheme, the G.O. added.
