Free bus pass scheme launched in Tamil Nadu

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa launched the free bus pass scheme for school and college students for 2016-17. 

•    She gave away smart cards to five students while launching the scheme, a press release said. Under the scheme, 31.11 lakh  school and college students will get free bus passes. 
•    The scheme would cost the State Rs. 504 crore for the year. 
•    In 2015-16, the government spent Rs. 480 crore to provide nearly 28 lakh students with free bus passes.
•    Jayaraman Jayalalithaa commonly referred to as Amma by members in her party and is an Indian politician and the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, in office since 2015. 
•    Previously she served as Chief Minister from 1991 to 1996, in 2001, from 2002 to 2006 and from 2011 to 2014. 
•    She was an actress before her entry into politics and appeared in 140 films which includes Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada films. 
•    As a leading actress in films from 1961 to 1980, she was considered as one of the most prolific and most versatile actress having appeared in films of different genres and for performing wide variety of characters.