.............................................................................................................................................................. Under the dynamic leadership of Hon’ble Chief Minister Puratchi Thalaivi AMMA .............................................................................................................................................................. Special Publication No. 55 Tamil Nadu in the Forefront May 2015 Published by : Director, Information and Public Relations Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Chennai - 600 009. Printed by : Tamilarasu Press, 110, Anna Salai, Chennai - 600 002. INTRODUCTION nder the dynamic leadership of the Hon’ble Chief Minister Puratchi Thalaivi Amma, Tamil Nadu is blessed with peace, progress and prosperity. Tamil Nadu, deep-rooted in cultural traditions and Uhistory, has pioneered number of schemes in several spheres, especially, in education, health, information technology, industry, rural development, urban development, transport, etc. There has been a paradigm shift in the ideology, governance and infrastructure during the last four years of the Government. Tamil Nadu has seen a lot of push in e-governance to introduce process transparency. Tamil Nadu is India’s second largest economy with Gross State Domestic Product (of US $ 80.1 billion), Per capita income (of US $ 1,872). It is the second largest contributor to India’s GDP, at 8.4%. The long term strategic plan for ‘Infrastructure Development - Vision 2023’ launched by the Hon’ble Chief Minister Puratchi Thalaivi Amma has given a momentum to all vital sectors. This volume, “Tamil Nadu in the Forefront” presents comprehensive information on vital areas of development in Tamil Nadu under the dynamic leadership of the Hon’ble Chief Minister Puratchi Thalaivi Amma. CONTENTS Sl. Page TITLE No. No. 1 Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare 8 2 Agriculture 12 3 Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries 24 4 Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and 35 Minorities Welfare 5 Co-operation, Food and Consumer Protection 39 6 Commercial Taxes and Registration 46 7 Differently Abled Persons Welfare 50 8 Energy 53 9 Environment and Forests 58 10 Handlooms, Handicrafts, Textiles and Khadi 66 11 Health and Family Welfare 69 12 Higher Education 75 13 Highways & Minor Ports 80 14 Home, Prohibition and Excise 86 15 Housing and Urban Development 102 16 Industries 108 Sl. Page TITLE No. No. 17 Information Technology 123 18 Labour and Employment 128 19 Law 134 20 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises 136 21 Municipal Administration and Water Supply 141 22 Personnel and Administrative Reforms 148 23 Public 150 24 Public Works 154 25 Revenue 165 26 Rural Development and Panchayat Raj 169 27 School Education 177 28 Social Welfare and Nutritious Meal Programme 183 29 Special Programme Implementation 191 30 Tamil Development and Information 194 31 Tourism, Culture and Religious Endowments 203 32 Transport 212 33 Youth Welfare and Sports Development 216 INDIA TODAY INDIA TODAY Adi Dravidar & Tribal Welfare he Government of Tamil Nadu has taken several initiatives for Timproving the socio-economic condition of Adi Dravidar and Tribal people thereby bringing them on par with the general population of Tamil Nadu. Education is the effective instrument to bring about this change. The Government of Tamil Nadu has formulated several welfare measures in this direction. These include Girl child Incentive Scheme, Post- Matric Scholarships, Pre-Matric RECEIPIENT OF GREEN HOUSE Scholarships and Free Education till Under Graduate level for boys and up to Post Graduate level for girls. As a result of these, the literacy level of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes has increased considerably in the past decade. In addition to the Educational Institutions run by the Education Department, the Department of Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare has several schools in its administrative control. It runs 1,125 Adi Dravidar Welfare schools and 305 Government Tribal Residential Schools with special focus on the children of the deprived classes. Children coming from these deprived classes face pressure from society. The Government of Tamil Nadu is sensitive to this reality and has provided hostel facilities to the children from the Scheduled communities. The Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department runs several hostels for them to stay in a conducive environment and study. The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu is implementing several landmark schemes for the welfare of Adi Dravidars and Tribals. 8 TAMILNADU IN THE FOREFRONT Post - Matric Scholarship Post - Matric Scholarship scheme is awarded to students belonging to Adi Dravidar, Tribal and “Adi Dravidar Converted to Christianity” if they continue their studies beyond Xth standard. Eligibility criteria for this scholarship is, income of the parents or guardians of such students who belong to Adi Dravidar / Tribal and Adi Dravidar Converted to Christianity must not exceed Rs. 2.50 lakh and Rs. 2.00 lakh per annum respectively. Under this scheme, students are provided with a maintenance allowance and the State Government reimburses all compulsory non-refundable fees payable by them. TODA TRIBES From the year 2011-12 onwards, the Hon’ble Chief Minister has announced that all SC and ST students studying in self-financing educational institutions in Girl Child Incentive Scheme Tamil Nadu, including those admitted under payment The Hon’ble Chief Minister introduced an seats category, would have their compulsary fees, incentive scheme for girls as early as 1994-95 to including tution fees, paid by Government. Every year encourage girls studying in standards III to V in approximately 4.50 lakh students benefit from this Adi Dravidar Welfare schools to ensure 100 per generous measure. cent enrolment at the elementary level. A sum of Rs. 500/- per annum is given to each SC/ST girl child. Similarly, a sum of Rs. 1,000/- per annum is given to each SC/ST girl child studying in VI standard to reduce the dropout rates. Until 2010-11, this scheme was implemented only in 16 districts. In 2011-2012, the Hon’ble Chief Minister extended this scheme to all girl children studying in all Government / Government-aided schools in all districts. From the year 2013-14, the Hon’ble Chief Minister has extended this scheme to VII and VIII standard girl children. A sum of Rs. 1,500/- per annum is given to them. Construction of Hostel Buildings In order to provide a conducive environment TODAS HOME well-suited for learning, it has been announced by the Hon’ble Chief Minister that the hostels for SC and TAMILNADU IN THE FOREFRONT 9 Government Tribal Girls Hostel, Government Tribal Welfare Residential Arumbavur Primary School, Karuppampatti, Dharmapuri District ST students functioning in rented buildings will be Construction of Toilet Blocks in accommodated in own buildings in due course. Orders have been issued for the construction of 42 hostels Adi Dravidar Welfare Schools in 2011-12, 44 in 2012-13 and 27 in 2013-14. The Recognizing the importance of sanitation and remaining 27 hostels will be taken up for construction cleanliness, the Hon’ble Chief Minister has ordered the in 2015-16. By 2015 – 2016, this announcement by the construction of 779 toilet blocks in Adi Dravidar Welfare Hon’ble Chief Minister will be a reality and all hostels schools at a total cost of Rs 38.95 crore. will be functioning in their own buildings. Economic Development schemes Overseas Scholarship for higher for Adi Dravidar entrepreneurs studies For the economic development of Adi Dravidars, SC and ST students who aspire to pursue higher the Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar Housing and Development studies abroad in Engineering, Technology and other Corporation (TAHDCO) is implementing a number of science disciplines are provided overseas scholarship. schemes by arranging loan with subsidy through Banks. To avail this scholarship, the income limit for parents/ Some of them are as follows: guardians is Rs. 3 lakh per annum. 1. Self-Employment Programme for Youth 2. Revolving fund to Self Help Groups Financial assistance to Ph.D. students 3. Economic Assistance to Self Help Groups SC/ST students who pursue full time Ph.D. in recognized Universities are sanctioned financial 4. Financial Assistance to candidates who have assistance of Rs.50,000/- per year. To be eligible for this passed Civil Services & TNPSC Group-I Preliminary the income limit for parents / guardians must be under Examination Rs. 2 lakh per annum. For the year 2014-15, a sum of 5. Financial Assistance to CA, ICWA and Law Rs. 350 lakh has been allocated for this scheme. Graduates to set up their profession. 10 TAMILNADU IN THE FOREFRONT TODA TRIBES For the first time in the history of Tamil Nadu, the Tribal Development Programme (CTDP). The aim Hon’ble Chief Minister announced that the quantum of is to create infrastructure facilities in Scheduled subsidy for self-employment has been increased from Tribe habitations and implement income generating Rs. 25,000/- to Rs. 2.25 lakh. programmes for the development of Scheduled Tmt K Kanagamani, who belongs to the SC Tribes. During 2012-13, Rs. 10 crore was sanctioned to community from Nilgiris district, is an example to be TAHDCO for income generating activities. The quantum cited. Under the Self Employment Programme for of subsidy is 50 per cent of the project cost subject to Youth, she received assistance for the purchase of a maximum of Rs. 3.75 lakh. Mahindra XYLO under TAHDCO’s Self Employment Programme for Youth. During a video conference arranged by TAHDCO, the Hon’ble Chief Minister approved providing of While the project cost is Rs. 8,00,000/- the financial assistance to Thiru. Pilthey Kuttan, son of subsidy element is Rs. 2,25,000/- and the rest is a loan Palani Kuttan, a Tribal. provided by a bank. Tmt Kanagamani and her husband Kumar belong to the SC community from the Nilgiris Under Comprehensive Tribal Development district. Programme, he received assistance for the purchase of Suzuki Swift Desire. Out of the total cost Tribal Welfare Scheme of Rs. 7,09,033/-, a subsidy of Rs. 3,54,516/- was The Hon’ble Chief Minister has sanctioned provided and the balance amount was availed as a order for Rs.