Chennai: The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government on Wednesday presented its first State Budget in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, outlining a roadmap centred on welfare, transparency, education and fiscal reforms. Presenting the Budget, Finance Minister N. Marie Wilson praised Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay for introducing administrative reforms aimed at improving transparency in governance, particularly in the tendering process.

During his Budget speech, Wilson said the government had taken significant steps to eliminate alleged irregularities in public contracts and ensure that government revenue reaches the state treasury without leakages. He described transparency in tender allocation as one of the major administrative reforms initiated by the new government.

The Finance Minister also acknowledged the financial challenges inherited by the administration and said the government is working towards strengthening the state's economy. Earlier, the TVK government had released a white paper stating that Tamil Nadu's outstanding debt stood at nearly ₹10 lakh crore. According to Wilson, the Budget has been prepared with an emphasis on financial discipline while continuing welfare programmes.

One of the major announcements was the allocation of more than ₹1,300 crore for two flagship gold assistance schemes promised by the TVK during the Assembly elections. The government has earmarked ₹812 crore for the Gold Coin and Silk Saree Scheme, under which eligible brides will receive eight grams of gold along with a silk saree during marriage.

Another ₹560 crore has been allocated for the Gold Ring Scheme, which will provide gold rings to newborn babies delivered in government hospitals. Both programmes were among the key election commitments made by the ruling party.

The government has also announced ₹2,000 crore for the Vettri Madikanini Thittam, under which laptops will be distributed to college students. The scheme aims to improve digital access and strengthen higher education by ensuring students have access to modern learning tools.

Reiterating the government's long-standing opposition to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), the Finance Minister urged the Central Government to abolish the entrance examination and restore admissions to medical colleges based on Class 12 board examination marks. The Budget speech stated that the government remains committed to protecting students' interests and ensuring equal educational opportunities.

Several measures related to minority welfare were also announced. The subsidy for first-time Haj pilgrims travelling through the Haj Committee has been increased from ₹25,000 to ₹35,000, providing additional financial assistance to eligible beneficiaries.

The education sector also received significant attention in the Budget. The government has allocated ₹300 crore for the modernisation of government schools, focusing on infrastructure improvements and better learning facilities. An additional ₹125 crore has been earmarked for establishing ultra-modern residential schools named after former Chief Minister K. Kamaraj, with the objective of expanding access to quality education.

To strengthen anti-drug initiatives, the government has provided ₹7 crore under the Drug-Free Tamil Nadu programme. The initiative aims to enhance awareness campaigns, prevention measures and enforcement efforts against drug abuse, particularly among young people.

Highlighting achievements of the government since assuming office, the Finance Minister said 717 liquor outlets had already been shut down. He also referred to the continuation of 200 units of free electricity for domestic consumers as part of the government's welfare commitments.

The Budget outlined several broader development priorities, including women's empowerment, social justice, housing for all, and improvements in public welfare schemes. Wilson said these initiatives reflect the government's long-term vision of inclusive development while balancing economic recovery with social welfare.

The presentation of the Budget marks the first comprehensive financial roadmap of the Vijay-led administration, outlining its priorities across welfare, education, governance reforms and fiscal management for the current financial year.