Jayalalithaa's new welfare scheme a gift to lactating mothers

In a new public welfare initiative, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has announced a move to help mothers of new-born babies.

The AIADMK chief has ordered setting up rooms for lactating mothers in bus stations and terminals to breastfeed their babies in privacy while travelling.

Jayalalithaa has ordered the facility to be functional from the first of August, which marks the beginning of World Breast Feeding week.

Since her return as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Jayalalithaa has introduced some other schemes as well. The AIADMK chief earlier launched a scheme to sell 500 gm packets of "A" grade lentils (pigeon pea) and black gram at subsidised rates of Rs 53.50 and Rs 56, respectively.

Jayalalithaa had also launched housing for poor, road improvement (outlay Rs 1,800 crore), drinking water (outlay Rs 77.13 crore) and livelihood training programmes for which Rs 100 crore has been allocated this year.

Under the housing for poor, a sum of Rs 210,000 would be paid to eligible families to build a proper house.