Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu, presenting the 2024-25 budget in the state Assembly on Monday, outlined a seven-point objective — titled the ‘seven grand Tamil dream’ — namely social justice, the welfare of marginalised, making the youth in the state global achievers, building a knowledge-based economy, equality focused on the welfare of women, sustainable future, and Tamil culture.
The government also announced a Rs 1,000 crore North Chennai Development scheme in the Budget.
The Finance Minister announced ‘Kalaignarin Kanavu Illam,’ a housing scheme named after the late DMK patriarch and former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, under which 8 lakh concrete houses will be constructed in rural areas across the state to make it ‘hut-free’ by 2030.
Among other schemes, Thennarasu allocated Rs 5 crore for archaeological excavations in eight places including areas in the state of Kerala with Tamil links. The government also allocated Rs 300 crore for civic amenities, including roads for areas near city corporations, and Rs 1,000 crore for the development of rural roads, the PTI report said.
Thennarasu also said that Tamil Nadu has made very significant progress in poverty reduction through its welfare schemes. According to the NITI Aayog, people below the poverty line in the state was only about 2.2 per cent, he added.
The state government made a series of allocations to different development projects in Tamil Nadu. This includes Rs 1,500 crore for the Adyar River restoration initiative and Rs 1,000 crore for school infrastructure development under ‘Prof Anbazhagan school development plan’.
The Budget also focused on ensuring the welfare of women through different schemes. It allocated Rs 13,720 crore for Kalaignar Women Rights Scheme, under which women in the state will be assisted with Rs 1,000 per month. The government also announced the formation of 10,000 new women Self Help Groups (SHGs), and credit linkages, and outlined Rs 35,000 crore allocation for the same, in addition to launching ‘Thozhi Viduthigal,’ a Rs 26 crore project which involves opening new hostels for working women.
Thennarasu announced during the Assembly session that the college education expenses of third-gender persons would be fully borne by the government.
In addition to this, he announced a coaching plan for 1,000 aspirants for SSC, railway and bank exams in Chennai, Coimbatore, and Madurai.