Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], October 1 :  In a move to expand the free bus travel scheme for women in Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister Vijay will launch the 'Vetri Payanam' scheme in Chennai on October 2 on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti.
Currently, women are travelling free of cost in ordinary buses operating in metropolitan and urban areas. Now, the scheme has been expanded to include Express, LSS, and Deluxe buses in metropolitan and urban areas, ordinary suburban buses between districts and ordinary buses in hill areas beyond 40 kilometres for women to travel free of cost. 
The announcement was made by Chief Minister Vijay under Rule 110 in the Legislative Assembly last month.
 A total of 12,692 buses operating under 7 transport corporations of the Tamil Nadu government have been brought under this scheme.
Through this, around 84.32 lakh women are expected to benefit per day. A video regarding the duties to be performed by the conductor when this Vetri Payanam scheme is launched has now been released. Information has been released that this scheme will be launched in Koyambedu and Ambattur in Chennai.
The 'Vetri Payanam' Free Bus Scheme aims to provide fare-free public bus transportation for women and transgender individuals across designated government-operated services. 
Earlier, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on September 28 launched the 'Thai Maman Thanga Mothiram' (Maternal Uncle's Gold Ring) scheme at Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai, bringing the scheme into effect across government hospitals in the state.
Under the scheme, eligible newborns are being provided a one-gram, 22-carat gold ring. The initiative will be implemented across Tamil Nadu, except in Maduranthakam and Dharapuram, where bypolls are due. 
The scheme is intended to benefit newborns from eligible families and strengthen maternal and child welfare initiatives.
Tamil Nadu Minister Arun Raj said, "A maternal uncle is someone who is among the first to rush in when a child is born, sharing in his sister’s happiness as his own. He assures her that he will always stand by her and her child, offering love, support and a sense of security. Today, the Tamil Nadu Government, under the leadership of our brother, Mr. Vijay, is embracing this sacred bond of the maternal uncle and, as a gesture of that affection, is set to provide a one-gram gold ring to every child born in government hospitals. When the scheme was announced and the question arose as to where it should be launched, the place chosen by our Chief Minister was Madurai. This is the sacred soil of Madurai, blessed with the compassion and grace of Mother Meenakshi."