Tamil Nadu's Freebie Politics: From Rice Schemes to Cash Transfers

• AIADMK's manifesto promises Rs 2,000/month to ration cardholders, Rs 10,000 one-time aid, free gas cylinders, and extended free bus travel for men.
• Welfare politics in Tamil Nadu began with the Dravidian movement, focusing on social justice and structural interventions like reservations and public education.
• M.G. Ramachandran's 1982 Noon Meal Scheme significantly boosted school enrollment, establishing a model for targeted welfare.
• The 2006 DMK manifesto, promising free TVs and subsidized rice, marked a turning point, making consumer goods central to electoral promises.
• Freebie competition escalated between DMK and AIADMK, leading to extensive distribution of household items and direct benefits, now shifting towards cash transfers.