NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, FEB 19
Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha election, Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu presented the State Budget for 2024-25 on Monday, premising the exercise on the “7 grand Tamil dream,” that included social justice and women’s welfare at the core.
Presented with the theme ‘Crossing obstacles and marching towards growth’ , Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu made a slew of announcements.
This included the “Kalaignarin Kanavu Illam,” a housing scheme named after the late DMK patriarch and former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi. As per the scheme, 8 lakh concrete houses will be constructed in rural areas across the state to make it ‘hut-free’ by 2030, he said.
Social justice, welfare of the marginalised, making Tamil youth global achievers were among the 7 goals, Thennarasu said in his budget speech.
Tamil Nadu government will introduce a special scheme to incentivise additional women employment in the State. This scheme will offer a payroll subsidy of 10 percent of the salary of women, differently abled and transgender employees for two years to all new industrial units providing direct employment to over 500 such individuals from Tamil Nadu.
The State will incentivise the creation of high paying jobs in new Global Capability Centres (GCCs) by providing a payroll subsidy of 30 per cent in the first year, 20 per cent in the second year and 10 per cent in the third year for jobs with pay above ₹1,00,000 per month.
Budget of ₹2 crore has been allocated for ethnographic documentation of Sourashtra and Paduga languages and languages of tribals including Thodas, Kothar, Cholakar, Kaani and Narikuravar.
Rope car facility is to come up at Tiruparankundram and Thiruneermalai.
Tamil Nadu government is to create four Olympic academies.
₹440 crore has been allocated for youth welfare and sports development.
The State has allotted ₹2 crore to translate the twin-epics of Tamil – Silapathikaram and Manimekalai in 25 Indian languages to convey the ideas of Tamils that include unity, integrity in politics, rights of citizens, competence un commerce and trade, religious harmony, eradication of poverty and hunger and feminism.
Tamil Nadu government will meet the higher education expenses of transgenders and it will be implemented through the transgender welfare board. ₹2 crore has been allotted for the purpose.
Government will also meet the hostel fee of transgenders.
Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu says the Chief Minister’s Breakfast scheme will be extended to government-aided primary schools in rural areas. ₹600 crore has been allocated.
Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu says Chief Minister’s Thayumanuvar Poverty eradication scheme will identify five lakh families living in poverty and provide welfare assistance.
Among others, he announced allocating ₹ 300 crore in budget for civic amenities, including roads for areas nearby city corporations.
Thennarasu said the state has made very significant progress in poverty reduction through its welfare schemes.
The NITI Aayog has said that people below poverty line in Tamil Nadu was only about 2.2 per cent, he added.
Key points
- Knowledge based economy, equality focused on welfare of women, sustainable future, Tamil culture among other goals
- Rs 5 crore allocated in TN Budget for archaeological excavations in 8 places including areas in states like Kerala with Tamil links
- TN govt allocates Rs 300 crore in budget for civic amenities including roads for areas nearby city corporations
- TN has made very significant progress in poverty reduction through its welfare schemes
- NITI Aayog has said that the people below poverty line in Tamil Nadu is only about 2.2 per cent
Slew of announcements:
- “Kalaignarin Kanavu Illam,” a housing scheme named after the late DMK patriarch and former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi. As per the scheme, 8 lakh concrete houses will be constructed in rural areas across the state to make it ‘hut-free’ by 2030
- Rs 300 crore for civic amenities, including roads for areas nearby city corporations
- Rs 1,500 crore for Adyar river restoration initiative
- Rs 1,000 crore for development of rural roads
- Rs 1,000 crore North Chennai Development scheme
- Rs 13,720 crore allocated for Kalaignar Women Rights Scheme, the Rs 1,000 per month assistance plan for women
- 10,000 new women SHGs, credit linkages, outlines Rs 35,000 crore allocation
- Rs 1,000 crore allocated for school infrastructure development under Prof Anbazhagan schools development plan
- The college education expenses of third gender persons will be fully borne by govt
- ‘Thozhi Viduthigal’ new hostels for working women, allots Rs 26 crore
- Coaching plan for 1,000 aspirants for SSC, railway and bank exams in Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai
