Honorarium not discouraging women from taking up paid work: UK university study on KMUT scheme in TN
According to the report, the findings show that cash transfers are not discouraging women's interest in paid employment. In fact, there were documented cases where beneficiaries took up more paid work compared to non-beneficiaries. About 21% of respondents opted for cash transfers as they were unable to work due to age, medical conditions, or childcare responsibilities.
Interestingly, 89% of beneficiaries perceived that the KMUT scheme had enabled them to take up paid work, and 86% reported increased access to such opportunities. The study also found 49% of beneficiaries spent the money on household goods, while others used it for medicines and food.
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The Hindu
6 days ago
- The Hindu
Tamil Nadu's KMUT Scheme: Gains and Gaps in Cash Transfer to Women
Published : Aug 14, 2025 21:01 IST - 6 MINS READ A year after the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led government in Tamil Nadu launched the Kalaignar Mahalir Urimai Thittam (KMUT) scheme, an unconditional monthly cash transfer of Rs.1,000 to the female head of eligible households in the State, a new report says that the scheme has helped in advancing women's financial autonomy but is yet to address some critical gaps. The report, titled 'A Right to Care, A Right to Welfare: A Study of the Kalaignar Mahalir Urimai Thittam', was released at Chennai's Anna Centenary Library on August 11, months before the 2026 Assembly election in the State. The survey was carried out by a team of researchers led by Prabha Kotiswaran in six districts: Virudhunagar, Dharmapuri, Coimbatore, Nagapattinam, Vellore, and Kancheepuram. 'The KMUT scheme recognises women's unpaid work and is very robust in terms of notification and implementation. We found that women are experiencing higher levels of financial well-being,' said Kotiswaran, a professor of law and social justice at The Dickson Poon School of Law, King's College London (KCL). She added that compared with cash transfer schemes in other States, the Tamil Nadu model 'offered hope'. Expenditure and food choices under KMUT The report, part of KCL's Laws of Social Reproduction project, shows that 96 per cent of the beneficiaries feel free from financial anxieties and more confident in handling life situations. A clear result of this increased independence is the way women decide to spend or save the KMUT amount. The report found that 82 per cent of beneficiaries spent the money, 6 per cent saved it entirely, and 12 per cent split it between saving and spending. About half the women used it for household goods, with spending on medicines now higher than everyday items. The data also showed that the beneficiaries were less likely to spend it on themselves. For instance, the report mentioned a beneficiary with a family of six who said that with inflation, she could not afford to spend anything on herself. Also Read | Welfare schemes win female voters but fail to boost women in politics The report states that the scheme has allowed women to buy a greater variety of food, with fish consumption seeing a notable rise among beneficiaries (17 percentage points) and their household members (19 percentage points). But it also notes that women are eating fewer meals because of rising grocery costs, indicating the amount is insufficient for their own expenses. Role in women's financial independence KMUT has changed the way things work at home for many, as the case of 36-year-old Vijayalakshmi suggests. A member of the women's union Penn Thozhilalar Sangam (PTS), Vijayalakshmi told Frontline that she found the KMUT amount to be helpful as it was extra income for her. 'Before, my kids would go to their father if they wanted something. Now, they come to me too,' she said. In the pre-survey, researchers found that women were at peace with the KMUT amount in hand. One year into the scheme, 91 per cent of the beneficiaries felt self-sufficient and autonomous, 95 per cent were able to spend without their husbands' permission, and 96 per cent felt like an asset rather than a liability. According to the report, women not only have more control over their finances but are also more financially aware, withdrawing their KMUT amount from banks, ATMs, customer service points, and e-Sevai centres. Yet, despite these gains, some PTS members voiced criticism. 'Government functionaries should understand that if women are happy with receiving this meagre amount, how bad their livelihood must be. That should signal that the scheme is hence a failure,' said Sumathi Dorairaj, a PTS member and activist. Kavitha, another PTS member, said that KMUT had not reached more than half the designated people. 'And those who have missed out on it are the ones in the lower reaches of society,' she added. Vijayalakshmi, however, saw no issue with the amount and said it would be spent regardless of how much it was. Impact on work and domestic violence The research found mixed results for the scheme's impact on paid and unpaid work. While the earnings from paid work outside the home fell by 95 per cent, paid work done at home rose by 36 per cent. Savings from unpaid work increased by 14 per cent. The report said some women used the money to travel for paid work, while others used it to earn from home or make domestic and care work easier. But having more income and independence also led to some unexpected problems. The study found a rise in certain forms of domestic violence among the beneficiaries surveyed. Minor violence became more frequent, with indicators such as husbands showing anger or jealousy when their wives spoke to other men or accusing them of being unfaithful. Major violence also increased—physical abuse by husbands rose by 34 percentage points, and wives hitting husbands went up by 16 percentage points. Incidents of sexual violence increased as well, with the frequency of forceful sexual acts rising by 53 per cent. Rethinking the scheme As per the report, 67 per cent of the beneficiaries felt that the KMUT amount should be increased. 'Widows must be given at least Rs.5,000. Many are denied the money because they are under 45 years of age. If they are above 45, they are refused on the grounds that their children are over 18. This Rs. 1,000 is not enough for them,' R. Sumathi, PTS general secretary, told Frontline. Narbadeshwar Mishra, an assistant professor of economics at O.P. Jindal Global University and one of the report's co-authors, said that Rs.1,000 is not enough to lift women out of poverty. He added that while it has made them more familiar with banking, many still do not use it much, and the small amount makes it harder to get loans. The report also observes that some beneficiaries want jobs over payments, and many expect the government to expand the scheme's eligibility criteria to include all women. It stated that '56 per cent of the respondents said they would prefer to access paid work instead of the cash transfer scheme, with only 21 per cent saying they preferred receiving just the cash transfer'. Right to care The report also calls for the inclusion of beneficiaries and women's groups in designing and improving the welfare system, linking it to a formal right to care. PTS president Sujata Mody said that the government must communicate with them to understand what needs to be done going forward. 'In a State like Tamil Nadu, where gender divide is deeply ingrained, KMUT offers respect and appreciation to women. But one cash transfer is not enough, as the scheme has negatively impacted other programmes such as the old age pension, scholarships for children, and MNREGA funds. If the government says the funds are limited, they should be better targeted,' Mody told Frontline. Also Read | The myth of the 'women vote bank' The report concludes that while KMUT has emerged as a success story, it is only a single step forward to empower women. It emphasises recognising unpaid domestic and care work under the UN's Sustainable Development Goals to enable its redistribution. Kotiswaran hopes that the report would help improve KMUT's implementation, including a reconsideration of eligibility criteria with a renewed focus on its purpose—to recognise care. 'If Tamil Nadu is serious about this, more must be done—embed the right to care and cash transfers in law, recognise care workers' rights (including scheme and domestic workers), and invest in the care economy,' she said.
New Indian Express
12-08-2025
- New Indian Express
Honorarium not discouraging women from taking up paid work: UK university study on KMUT scheme in TN
CHENNAI: A study conducted by the King's College London on the Kalaignar Mahalir Urimai Thogai Thittam (KMUT) found that around 56% of women preferred access to paid work over a cash transfer scheme, while only 23% said they would choose just the cash transfer. The remaining 21% felt it would be best to receive both paid work and the cash benefit. According to the report, the findings show that cash transfers are not discouraging women's interest in paid employment. In fact, there were documented cases where beneficiaries took up more paid work compared to non-beneficiaries. About 21% of respondents opted for cash transfers as they were unable to work due to age, medical conditions, or childcare responsibilities. Interestingly, 89% of beneficiaries perceived that the KMUT scheme had enabled them to take up paid work, and 86% reported increased access to such opportunities. The study also found 49% of beneficiaries spent the money on household goods, while others used it for medicines and food.
New Indian Express
30-06-2025
- New Indian Express
Tamil Nadu approves rates for land acquisition in Parandur
CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government has approved land acquisition rates for the second Chennai airport proposed at Parandur in Kancheepuram district. The rates have been fixed from Rs 35 lakh to Rs 2.57 crore per acre based on the Guideline Value (GLV), sale value and private negotiations held at the district- and state-levels to arrive at a 'fair' price. A Government Order was issued by V Arun Roy, secretary of the Industries, Investment Promotion and Commerce Department, on June 25. However, residents protesting against the project — since July 2022 — alleged that the state government, in its G.O., has 'misleadingly' shown the GLV and sale value to be the same in a majority of cases in order to 'deceive people'. Women getting pensions under four schemes can avail KMUT The G.O. stated that eligible female family members of women receiving monthly pensions under four other schemes — the Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme, Destitute Widow Pension Scheme, Destitute/Deserted Wives Pension Scheme and the Pension Scheme for Unmarried Poor Incapacitated Women Aged 50 and Above — will also be allowed to apply for the KMUT scheme. 'Only after receiving the applications will we know how many female family members of beneficiaries under the four social security schemes will benefit from these relaxations. The beneficiaries themselves are not eligible to apply for KMUT,' said an official from the revenue department.
