Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay made an unscheduled stop at a roadside farmhouse in Salem on Tuesday, where he met an elderly woman and gifted her his Christian Dior sunglasses in a gesture that drew attention on social media. Vijay was in the district to open the gates of the Mettur Dam for the release of water for Samba paddy cultivation in the Cauvery Delta.

After inspecting the Mettur hydroelectric power station, Vijay was travelling towards Salem airport when he noticed a group of elderly women working in nearby fields. He stepped out of his convoy to meet them, prompting local residents to gather around. An elderly woman identified as Chellam approached him and held his hand as they spoke.

During the approximately 15-minute interaction, Vijay asked Chellam about her well-being and whether she had eaten. He also walked with her around the garden area and visited the cattle shed and dwelling of local farmer Palanisamy. The Chief Minister later took off his own sunglasses and placed them on Chellam after she initially appeared hesitant to accept the gift.

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Chellam later recalled the meeting with evident happiness, describing the interaction as a memorable experience. She also mentioned that Vijay distributed dhotis and sarees to the host family and discussed agricultural issues with the residents. The conversation included the state government's recent decision to increase milk procurement prices to Rs 44.

The encounter was particularly meaningful for Chellam, who lives with several everyday difficulties associated with old age. She reportedly has a lost ration card, is unable to undertake heavy physical work and depends on a modest monthly allowance to meet her food requirements. Despite these challenges, the brief meeting left her deeply moved, with her attention during the interaction focused largely on meeting the Chief Minister.

As Vijay's convoy departed, Chellam recalled that he had told her he had already eaten and encouraged her to have her meal. Footage of the spontaneous interaction subsequently circulated widely on social media, with the gesture receiving appreciation from local residents. The meeting also added a personal dimension to Vijay's Salem visit, which was primarily linked to the release of water from the Mettur Dam for agricultural activities in the Cauvery Delta.

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