Chennai : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday handed over keys, RC books and two-wheelers to five beneficiaries of Amma two-wheeler scheme at a function held in Chennai.

Expressing his happiness to participate in Amma’s pet scheme, which was also an election promise in 2016 general elections, Prime Minister Modi said it would go a long way in empowering the women.

If you empower women, you empower the entire society, the prime minister said listing out all the schemes that his government made for the women and also asserted that women formed the majority of beneficiaries of Jan Dhan yojna or mudra yojna.

The Amma two-wheeler scheme was started on the 70th birth anniversary of Jayalalithaa. In the first batch 1000 beneficiaries will be given the two-wheelers today.

The prime minister handed over the keys and vehicles to five beneficiaries — Madhumala, a sales person in Chennai, D Deepa, an assistant in a private firm, S Farzana, accounts assistant, Thangamalar, an assistant in a private company and G Kavita an assistant in a private clinic.

The Prime Minister launched into English, after greeting the audience in Tamil, “I am happy to launch Jayalalithaa’s pet scheme of Amma two-wheeler scheme,” PM Modi said.

“If a woman is educated, entire family is educated. If she is healthy, entire family is healthy. When her future is secured the future of entire home is secured. In Central government we are working in this direction,” PM Modi said.

Centre has also increased allocations to Tamil Nadu, he said adding even the farmers have got benefit of Rs 2000 crore. Then the prime minister listed out all the achievements of the central government.

Deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam thanked the prime minister for accepting the invitation and said TN government rededicated itself to the path laid down by Puratchi Thalaivi Amma.

Chief Minister Edapaddi Palaniswami also said the government was continuing all the programmes started by Amma and will stick to the path shown by her. The Chief minister requested the prime minister to set up Cauvery Management Board at the earliest as per SC order.

Earlier, state chief minister and deputy chief minister jointly unveiled a 7ft high bronze statue of Amma at the party headquarters at Royapeta. EPS said, “Amma safeguarded the party after the demise of MGR. She made it the third largest in the country.” OPS criticised film stars trying to enter politics and said time will tell who bites the dust.

The duo also launched the party’s new journal, Namadhu Puratchi Thalaivi Amma. It has been necessitated as Namadhu MGR is under the control of Sasikala faction.