Tamil Nadu’s Amma Two-wheeler Scheme: 24 February Kick-start Will See More Women Driving

Come 24 February, you could have more women on mopeds or two-wheelers in Tamil Nadu. This is because the Tamil Nadu government will be launching the “Amma two-wheeler Scheme”, which will provide Rs 25,000 or 50 per cent subsidy to working women so they can buy mopeds. The scheme is being launched by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) to coincide with the late J Jayalalithaa’s seventieth birth anniversary.

The state government, announcing the guidelines last month, said women in the age group of 18-40 with an annual income of less than Rs 2.5 lakh were eligible for the subsidy. Preferences will be given to families run by a woman, a widower, disabled women and transgenders. Only one person from a family will be eligible for the subsidy, according to media reports.

EPS said one lakh women would get the two-wheeler subsidy every year and it is expected to cost the exchequer Rs 200 crore annually. During the May 2016 assembly elections, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), led by the late J Jayalalithaa, promised 50 per cent subsidy to working women to buy mopeds.

The scheme launch announcement has led to the Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) in Tamil Nadu, which issue driving licenses, to be besieged by women for the purpose of getting either a learner’s or permanent driving licence. Hundreds of women had thronged the RTOs till 5 February, the last date to apply for the scheme.

On their part, automobile dealers reached out to their potential customers using different marketing techniques.

Women, to avail of the benefits under the scheme, have to get a quotation from the automobile dealer and submit it to the Block Development Office or the municipality with the relevant documents. Besides giving quotations, the dealers also handed out application forms for the subsidy.