Palaniswami Says Loan Waiver for PwDs Will Be Implemented After AIADMK Victory

Palaniswami Says the AIADMK will write off loans taken by persons with disabilities from cooperative banks if the party comes back to power in Tamil Nadu. The announcement was made by AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami during a public meeting held in Chennai to mark the birth anniversary of party founder and former Chief Minister MG Ramachandran. The fresh assurance adds to a growing list of welfare commitments being highlighted by the opposition party as it prepares for the upcoming Assembly elections.

Speaking before party cadres and supporters, Palaniswami said the decision was aimed at easing the financial burden faced by differently abled individuals who depend on cooperative bank loans for survival, small businesses, and basic needs. He said such loans often become a long-term strain due to limited income opportunities, and a complete waiver would give them a chance to restart life with dignity.

Palaniswami Says Welfare Promises Reflect AIADMK’s Governance Model

Palaniswami Says the loan waiver promise is part of the AIADMK’s larger welfare-oriented political approach. He recalled that the party had already announced multiple schemes earlier in January, positioning them as measures rooted in social justice and inclusive growth. According to him, these announcements were not election-time slogans but extensions of policies that the AIADMK had followed during its previous rule.

Among the earlier promises announced were monthly financial assistance of Rs 2,000 to women heads of families under the Kulavilakku Thittam, free city bus travel for men, free government-built houses for homeless families under the Amma Housing Scheme, and concrete houses for Scheduled Caste families when married sons form separate households. Palaniswami also reiterated the assurance of 150 days of employment under a rural job guarantee programme and subsidised two-wheelers for five lakh women through the Amma Two-Wheeler Scheme.

He said the additional commitment to waive loans of persons with disabilities fits into the same framework, where vulnerable sections are given direct support instead of symbolic gestures. Addressing criticism from political opponents, Palaniswami maintained that welfare spending should be seen as an investment in social stability rather than a burden on the state’s finances.

Palaniswami Says MG Ramachandran’s Legacy Continues Through Welfare Politics

Palaniswami Says the choice of announcing the promise on MG Ramachandran’s birth anniversary was deliberate. He said MGR’s politics was built on protecting the poor, the disabled, and those ignored by mainstream development. According to Palaniswami, the AIADMK continues to follow that legacy by framing policies that directly affect daily life rather than abstract reforms.

He accused the ruling dispensation of ignoring cooperative bank borrowers and failing to provide meaningful relief to persons with disabilities. He said cooperative banks were created to support the common man, but many beneficiaries today are trapped in debt due to rising costs and lack of institutional support. Writing off these loans, he argued, would restore the original purpose of cooperative banking. Also Read: CM Stalin Opens Memorial Hall in Sivaganga: 1 Event That Revives Shared History

Palaniswami also used the occasion to mobilise party workers, urging them to take the party’s welfare message to every household. He said the AIADMK’s strength lay in its ability to connect policies with people’s lived realities, especially in rural and semi-urban areas.

Conclusion

Palaniswami Says the promise to waive cooperative bank loans for persons with disabilities is both a political statement and a social commitment. As the election season approaches, such announcements indicate that welfare politics will remain central to the AIADMK’s campaign strategy, with a strong emphasis on targeted support for vulnerable groups rather than broad policy narratives.