Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay delivering the Independence Day speech | Photo Credit: Bijoy Ghosh

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Saturday vowed to establish a corruption-free government and called upon officials and people to adopt “zero tolerance” towards corruption, as he delivered his maiden Independence Day address from Fort St George in Chennai.

“We want our people to develop zero tolerance towards corruption. We appeal to the officials and people of Tamil Nadu to make our state corruption free,” Vijay said after hoisting the National Flag.

Recalling the mandate secured by the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), Vijay said the people had rejected caste and religious considerations, as well as money and muscle power, and extended overwhelming support to his government.

“I once again extend my respectful greetings and salute the people of Tamil Nadu who have broken the caste and religious considerations, rejecting money and muscle power and gave us overwhelming support to establish a people-centric and social justice government,” he said.

Vijay said the State government was cooperating with the Centre on administrative matters, while making it clear that Tamil Nadu would oppose policies that were against the rights of the State.

He said the government was working towards its long-term economic goal of taking Tamil Nadu’s economy to $1.5 trillion by 2036, with the objective of developing the State on par with some developed countries.

Highlighting the initiatives undertaken during the first three months of the TVK government, Vijay said crop loans taken by farmers had been waived and 717 TASMAC liquor shops had been closed.

He also announced a new welfare initiative for newborns. The Thaimaman Thanga Mothiram Thittam, under which gold rings will be provided to newborns delivered in government hospitals, will be launched on September 15, the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister CN Annadurai. The scheme will involve an expenditure of ₹756 crore, he said.

The Chief Minister also announced enhanced financial assistance for the families of ex-servicemen. Assistance for the marriage of daughters of ex-servicemen, with up to two daughters eligible, will be increased to ₹50,000 from ₹25,000.

Monthly assistance for differently-abled ex-servicemen and their kin will be raised to ₹7,000 from ₹5,000, he said.

Vijay further announced that the pension for freedom fighters would be increased to ₹23,000, while the family pension for their kin would be raised to ₹12,500.

Published on August 15, 2026