DMK seeks CBI probe into anomalies in ‘gold for thali’ scheme

In a statement here, DMK Treasurer and Leader of the Opposition MK Stalin said a Tamil magazine has reported that gold was procured at an enhanced cost of Rs 111.43 crore for the scheme between August 18, 2011 to December 29, 2015, over and above the international price of gold. Expressing shock over the overpricing of gold coins above the market price, he questioned the need for purchasing it at a higher rate and demanded a CBI probe into it. He also said people have the right to know the real beneficiaries on this alleged irregularities, which has caused a huge loss to the state exchequer. It may be recalled that Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had in September 2016 launched the enhanced gold scheme under a marriage assistance programme, benefitting 12,500 women for the year 2016-17. 

The scheme involves providing marriage assistance and gold for daughters of poor parents and widows among others to make thaali ( mangalsutra ). The scheme was launched in 2011 when four grams of gold was given to poor women. It was then enhanced to eight grams from four grams as per the promise made by the party in its poll manifesto in the run up to the May 16, 2016 Assembly poll. Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had launched the scheme by giving away gold coins, each weighing 8 gm, to five beneficiaries hailing from her RK Nagar constituency and Kancheepuram in September.