CHENNAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the State got higher funds allocations and projects with huge investments under the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) rule.

The Prime Minister was here to launch the Tamil Nadu Government’s subsidised scooter scheme – ‘Amma Two Wheeler Scheme’ for working women as a part of 70th birth anniversary of former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa.

He also planted a sapling and inaugurated the plan to plant 70 lakh saplings as a part of Jayalalithaa birth anniversary celebrations.

Beginning his speech in Tamil saying that he was proud to stand on the soil of great poet and freedom fighter Mahakavi Subramania Bharathi, Modi said he bowed his head to Tamil culture and language.

Around 9.5 lakh women in Tamil Nadu were benefitted from the Centre’s free cooking gas scheme. Over 24,000 crore worth of projects were implemented by the Central Government in Tamil Nadu after BJP came to power at the centre.

The Central Government sanctioned Rs.3,700 crore for the Chennai Metro Rail project.

Taking a dig at the earlier Congress-led government at the Centre, Modi said under the previous regime Tamil Nadu got just Rs.80,000 crore whereas under NDA regime the state got around Rs.180,000 crore under the 14th Finance Commission allocation.

Tamil Nadu received Rs. 700 crore during 2016-17 and Rs. 200 crore in 2017-18 under the rural housing scheme and the State received over Rs.6,000 crore for urban housing. “Around Rs.2,600 crore has been given under the crop insurance scheme,” he said.

Referring to the long coastline, Modi said the central government provided Rs.100 crore to Tamil Nadu for converting 750 fishing boats to long liner for deep sea fishing.

Underlining the importance of woman in a family and society Modi said empowering a woman was empowering a whole family.

“Around Rs.460,000 crore has been given under the Mudra loan scheme of which 70 per cent is for women. Women of India are coming out of their age old shackles and seeking self employment,” Modi said.

The subsidised two wheeler scheme is part of AIADMK party’s 2016 poll promise.

Under the scheme, the government would provide 50 per cent subsidy subject to a maximum of Rs.25,000 for the purchase of two wheelers by working women.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Palaniswami urged the Prime Minister to initiate steps to set up the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) and Cauvery Water Regulation Committee as per the apex court’s order.

Welcoming the gathering, Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam said the State Government continued to follow the footsteps of Jayalalithaa.