Chennai
Ms Jayalalithaa, soon after taking charge in May last year, also signed a similar file ordering closure of 500 shops of the total 6,700 shops in the State.
With Mr Palaniswami's announcement, 500 more shops would be closed, further bringing down the number of TASMAC retail outlets to 5,700 in the state.
Sale of liquor through the state-owned TASMAC outlets was one of the major revenue earner for the government as it kept rising every year and crossed the Rs 25,000 crore mark at the end of last fiscal.
Fulfilling another promise, he also announced 50 per cent subsidy or a maximum of Rs 20,000 for working women for purchase of two-wheelers or mopeds under the 'Amma Two-wheeler Scheme' to enable them to commute to their offices and other places easily.
''One lakh working women will be covered under the scheme every year and it will be implemented at a cost of Rs 200 core'', the Chief Minister said, in his first interaction with the media at his chamber.
He also announced hike in the maternal assistance for poor pregnant women from Rs 12,000 to Rs 18,000 under the Dr Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme, fulfilling another poll promise.
Mr Palaniswami said the scheme, to be implemented at a cost of Rs 360 crore per annum, would cover six lakh pregnant women annually.
Apart from announcing construction of 5,000 houses for fishermen at a cost of Rs 1.70 lakh each at a cost of Rs 85 crore, under the special housing scheme for fishermen as promised in the election manifesto, he also doubled the monthly dole being given to unemployed youths.
The assistance would be hiked from Rs 100 to Rs 200 to those who had not passed tenth standard and from Rs 150 to Rs 300 to those who have passed it.
''Similarly, for youths who had not passed the Plus-2 (12th standard), they will get a monthly assistance of Rs 400 from Rs 200 and for under and post graduates, the assistance was doubled from Rs 300 to Rs 600'', Mr Palaniswami said, adding, the government would incur an expenditure of Rs 31 crore per annum.
Later, replying to questions, the Chief Minister said drought relief to the affected farmers would be given at the earliest.
Earlier, Mr Palaniswami, after paying floral tributes to a portrait of late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, took charge in the same office room used by her. He was welcomed by Chief Secretary Ms Girija Vaidyanathan, senior IAS and IPS officials.
After assuming charge he was greeted by several AIADMK leaders, including Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai, MPs, State Ministers, who presented him shawls and bouquets.
After he was appointed as Chief Minister and sworn in on February 16, Mr Palaniswami as per the Governor's advise moved a trust vote in the State Assembly on February 18 and won with a 122-11 margin.
He was the third Chief Minister to assume in the last ten months after the AIADMK retained power for a second successive term in the May 2016 Assembly elections.
After the polls, Ms Jayalalithaa took charge as CM. Following her death in December last year, Mr O Panneerselvam became CM, before AIADMK General Secretary V K Sasikala was elected as his successor.
Later, he revolted against the AIADMK High Command and said he was forced to resign, leading to a power struggle within the ruling party.
But Sasikala's CM aspirations were shattered after she was convicted by the Supreme Court in the disproportionate assets case, leading to the elevation of Mr Palaniswami as the CM.
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