CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Thursday launched a slew of programmes, including free distribution of 50 country chicken breed to each beneficiary, to promote backyard poultry farming. The scheme announced in June will provide four-week-old roosters, hens and cages to 77,000 rural women The scheme will be implemented in all districts , except Chennai. “The allocated sum under poultry development scheme has been enhanced to Rs 25 crore. The chief minister launched the scheme by distributing the country chicken to five beneficiaries,” said an official release. Palaniswami advised the beneficiaries to take care of the poultry.The animal husbandry department plans to set up teams of beneficiaries of four and five villages in each panchayat union. This will facilitate easy supply of poultry feed and market the litter. As each beneficiary gets four-week-old rooster and hen in equal proportion, profit could be made by selling 20 roosters in 16th week. Besides ensuring sustainable livelihood, the backyard poultry farming would help create woman entrepreneurs and increase per capita income and rural economy.The chief minister inaugurated Theni prison and residential quarters for police, fire and rescue services stations and police stations in various parts of the state at Rs 89 crore. A newly built urban administration office campus in MRC Nagar in Chennai was also opened. The 11-floor building will house the commissionerate of municipal administration and directorate of town panchayats.