Jayalalitha's legacies what it means to the country
Jayalalitha, popularly called "Amma" in Tamilnadu is one of the great leaders of India. Jayalalitha served as Chief Minister of Tamilnadu for five times and died in her sixth tenure as CM in office. Amma was an actor turned politician similar to her Guru "MGR". She entered active politics in the year 1982 with the guidance of MGR. She got elected as the Rajya Sabha member in 1984. Jayalalitha became the first CM of Tamilnadu in 1991 after uniting the split AIADMK after the demise of MGR in 1991. She then faced a lot of corruption charges, defeats, victories and rest was history.
Amma Success Mantra
"Amma" brand is the core success of Jayalalitha. A lot of low cost and free social schemes were introduced under the brand name of 'Amma'. Freebies given by Jayalalitha cost the state in a dear manner but benefited crores of people in Tamilnadu. This made Jayalalitha popular among the Tamil people. Amma freebie schemes are mainly focused on women welfare.
Family focused Freebie schemes
The planning of Jayalalitha was immaculate with the freebies covering the entire family members. "Focus on family welfare and country will develop by itself" was her motto. She gave freebies of table fans, mixie and grinder to all PDS card holders as per the election promise made in 2011. Now, in 2016 the promise of free 100 units of electricity to all households benefits the entire family. Women of the family were satisfied by giving free household freebies, Men of the family were satisfied by giving handloom, free goats and cattle, children of the family were satisfied by giving free laptops, free cycles, free uniforms and free books etc. Women of the family were given importance and the 'Pasumai veedu' houses were registered in their names along with free gas connections and stoves.
Gist of the Amma welfare schemes
| S.No | Scheme Name | Brief | Beneficiaries |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Thalikku Thangam | 8 gram gold and cash up to 50000 | Women |
| 2 | Magalir Suya Uthavikulu | Loans to women SHG | Women |
| 3 | Cradle Baby | To reduce female foeticide | Mothers |
| 4 | Amma Laptops | Free laptops to school and college | Students |
| 5 | Amma Baby Care kits | Free 16 baby products worth 1000 | New Born |
| 6 | Sowbhaghya Legiyam | Medicinal preparation for health | Mothers |
| 7 | Pasumai Veedu | Houses for BPL at Subsidized rate | Women |
| 8 | Amma Unavagam | Low cost food | Public |
| 9 | Amma drinking water | Low Cost drinking water | Public |
| 10 | Amma Kudineer | 20 litres of drinking water daily | Family |
| 11 | Amma Salt | Low cost salt | Family |
| 12 | Amma Cement | Low cost cement | Public |
| 13 | Amma Mobile phones | Free Smartphones to SHG | Women SHG |
| 14 | Amma Pharmacies | Low cost medicines | Patients |
| 15 | Amma Micro loans | Avail loan up to 5000 from banks | Traders |
| 16 | Amma Arogya | Low cost master health checkup | Family |
| 17 | Amma mediclaim | Sum Assured 1 lakh for treatment | Family |
| 18 | Amma Theatre | Tamil films at ticket price of Rs.10 | Family |
| 19 | Amma Gyms | Rural areas at a cost of 10 lakh | Public |
Tamil Nadu under Jayalalitha
Social Sector
- Tamil Nadu now has India's lowest fertility rate (1.7 average children per women) ranking first
- Second best infant mortality (21 per 1000 births) ranks 2nd after Kerala
- Maternal mortality rate (90 per 100000 births) ranks 2nd after Kerala
- Crime rates against children and women lowest in India
Education
- 6th rank in Gross enrollment ratio
- 14th rank in literacy rate (80.7 %)
- 15th rank in Female literacy rate (73.8 %)
Crime rate
- Recorded crime rate against women is the lowest in India (17 per 100000 women)
- Recorded crime rate against children is the second lowest in India
- Recorded crime rate against Scheduled Caste is the third lowest in India
Industrial Growth
- Tamilnadu ranks first in the number of factories (37378) in India
- Highest industrial employment for people in Tamilnadu
- Tamilnadu has the most number of rich people in India
- Per capita income of Tamilnadu is fifth in India
- Attracted billions of dollars to Tamilnadu by conducting the investor meet in September 2015
- Tamilnadu became an automobile hub under her regime
Conclusion
The Discipline, administration, governance and decision making of Amma are lauded worldwide and are considered the vital takeaways for leadership in India. Her disciplined regime was clearly evident in her funeral procession which was conducted in the most silent and peaceful manner without any violence amidst a massive gathering. This reveals the respect shown by the Tamil people towards the great leader Amma. She was indeed the "Iron Lady" for overcoming the various challenges and controversies imposed on her with grit and determination. Amma is an achiever amidst the male dominated politics field. She is a winner and has become a role model for others to follow. Probably, the best meaning of her life to India was her last words - People made me and I belong to the People
"Makkalal Naan, Makkalukakavae Naan"
-Chelladurai.P
