Free power, women’s safety, anti-drug push: Vijay's first orders as TN CM

Soon after taking oath as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu at the Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai, C Joseph Vijay signed the first set of government orders linked to major promises made during the Assembly election campaign.

The three initiatives include expanding the state’s free electricity scheme to 200 units, launching a new all-women security force called “Singapen Sirappu Athiradi Padai”, and setting up dedicated anti-drug task forces across all districts.

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While the announcements have generated political attention and public support in some sections, they have also sparked debate over their financial and administrative feasibility.

200 units of free electricity

One of Vijay’s first decisions as Chief Minister was approving 200 units of free electricity once every two months for households in Tamil Nadu.

Under the scheme, 200 units of electricity per month to domestic consumers are free, equivalent to up to 400 free units in a two-month billing cycle, provided the total electricity consumption does not exceed 500 units during the same period.

The state already provides 100 units of free power to domestic consumers. The new decision effectively doubles that benefit and positions Tamil Nadu alongside states such as Karnataka, Delhi and Telangana, which already offer 200 units of free electricity.

The move is expected to provide immediate financial relief to households struggling with rising living costs and is likely to remain politically popular among lower and middle-income families.

However, the decision has also raised concerns about the financial condition of Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO), which is already burdened with heavy losses.

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Even before the expansion of the subsidy, the estimated electricity subsidy for 2025–26 stood at around Rs 7,752 crore. Critics argue that increasing free power consumption could deepen the losses of the state-run utility and place additional pressure on Tamil Nadu’s finances.

Tamil Nadu’s overall debt is estimated at Rs 9.52 lakh crore under the revised 2025–26 estimates and is projected to touch Rs 10.71 lakh crore by March 2027.

Anti-drug task force

Vijay also signed orders to establish dedicated anti-drug prevention units in every district as part of the government’s goal of creating a “drug-free Tamil Nadu”.

The drug menace emerged as one of the most heavily debated issues during the Assembly election campaign, with political parties accusing each other of failing to control narcotics circulation.

Tamil Nadu has witnessed growing concerns over synthetic narcotics, pharmaceutical drug abuse and increasing involvement of youngsters in drug-related activities. Educational institutions have increasingly become areas of concern, with addiction cases being reported among school and college students.

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According to the government, the new district-level task forces will focus on tackling drug-related crimes, dismantling narcotics networks and strengthening preventive measures.

The initiative, however, also comes despite several anti-drug measures already being implemented in recent years. Tamil Nadu Police had launched large-scale “Ganja Vettai” operations between 2021 and 2025, during which over 107 tonnes of ganja and thousands of pharmaceutical tablets were reportedly seized.

In 2022, the state also introduced Anti-Drug Clubs in educational institutions to create awareness among students about substance abuse.

‘Singapen Sirappu Athiradi Padai’

Another major initiative announced by Vijay was the formation of ‘Singapen Sirappu Athiradi Padai’, an elite all-women task force aimed at strengthening women’s safety and security across Tamil Nadu.

According to the government, the special unit will function exclusively to address women’s security concerns in all parts of the state.

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The move comes amid rising concerns over crimes against women. Reports indicate that cases involving crimes against women increased by nearly 30 per cent in 2024, while an NGO study reportedly pointed to a 40 per cent rise in such crimes in 2025.

Tamil Nadu Police had earlier introduced measures such as the Kavalan SOS app, designed to provide immediate assistance during emergencies including harassment, eve-teasing and kidnapping threats.

While previous governments had already introduced measures in these areas, the effectiveness and implementation of these expanded initiatives under the new administration will be closely watched in the coming months.