State government increases health insurance coverage to Rs 25 lakh and expands agricultural debt relief measures.
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The measures follow consultations with agricultural unions held on August 7, 2026. The government previously initiated farm loan waivers shortly after the Chief Minister took office in May.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Wednesday announced that the annual coverage under the state's Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme will be increased to Rs 25 lakh from Rs 5 lakh.
Vijay also announced a hike in the procurement price of Aavin milk from Rs 38 to Rs 41 per litre.
The announcement was made in the state Assembly.
The move comes alongside the state government's decision to provide additional relief to farmers through a waiver of cooperative farm loans.
Vijay had earlier announced a full waiver of agricultural loans up to Rs 50,000 within 15 days of taking office in May. The relief was subsequently expanded, benefiting more than 14.44 lakh farmers.
Under the latest announcement, cooperative farm loans of up to Rs 75,000 will receive a 100% waiver.
For loans ranging up to Rs 1 lakh, the waiver will be up to Rs 75,000, while loans above Rs 1 lakh will receive a waiver of Rs 35,000.
The additional farm-loan relief will involve an estimated Rs 953.06 crore expenditure for the state government, Vijay said.
The latest measures follow consultations with agricultural unions held on August 7, 2026.
According to the chief minister, the additional relief will support more than 1.38 lakh farmers, taking the total waiver amount to Rs 6,220 crore for 13.34 lakh farmers.
Vijay-led government also announced the extension to 365 days of maternity leave for women state government employees for a third child and enhanced benefits for MLAs.
According to the announcement, women working in the state government offices will now be entitled to 365 days of maternity leave for a third child, bringing it in line with the leave available for the first two children.
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