Page 20 - Tamil Nadu

TN Budget: Hut-free mission aims at 800,000 concrete houses by 2030

The scheme called Kalaignarin Kanavu Illam will be implemented at a cost of Rs 3,500 crore, giving an opportunity to the poor to build their dream homes

TN announces policy to restore coastal resources, capitalise blue economy

Taking forward its pioneering initiatives in nature conservation, the Tamil Nadu government on Monday announced the 'TN-SHORE', a mission to restore coastal resources across 14 districts covering 1,076 km. Presenting the Budget Estimates for 2024-25 in the Assembly, Finance Minister Thangam Thenarasu said about Rs 1,675 crore has been sanctioned to the mission, titled 'Neithal Meetchi Iyakkam' which would enhance biodiversity by protecting coasts, improve livelihoods of local communities, and contain pollution in those areas. "This initiative will capitalise on the potential of the Blue Economy and will primarily focus on the restoration of mangroves, coral reefs, and salt marshes," he said. It will take up the conservation of mangroves besides reviving coral reefs at Kariyachalli islands in the Gulf of Mannar. Additionally, works are underway to establish a sprawling botanical garden in Kadambur, Chengalpattu, spanning 137 acres, at a cost of Rs 345 crore, in collaboration with ..

TN fiscal deficit at 3.44% in FY25, growth anticipated: State finance secy

Tamil Nadu's fiscal deficit in the Budget Estimates for 2024-25 stood at 3.44 per cent of the GSDP despite a decline in the State's Own Tax Revenue (SOTR) due to two successive natural calamities in December 2023 resulting in additional expenditure, State Principal Secretary-Finance T Udhayachandran said on Monday. The SOTR suffered a revenue loss due to cyclone Michaung and unprecedented rains in the southern districts. The state government had to spend more on flood relief, provide immediate relief measures besides initiate long-term relief measures, he said. "This budget has been prepared under this financial stress...Nevertheless, Tamil Nadu's economy is robust. We expect a 15 per cent growth in our SOTR through the Commercial Taxes Department," Udhayachandran told reporters here. The Registration department did not see the expected growth last year but next year the government hoped that it would fetch more revenue to the state, he added. Briefing the media on the Budget ...

TN govt presents Budget 2024-25 with focus on '7 grand Tamil dream'

The Tamil Nadu government on Monday presented its budget for the year 2024-25, premising the exercise on the "7 grand Tamil dream," that included social justice and women's welfare at the core. Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu presented the budget and 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. Among others, he announced allocating Rs 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 povert

Will meet you with good news: Kamal Hassan to make announcement on alliance

While speaking to reporters at Chennai airport, the MNM chief, referring to preparations for the parliamentary polls, anticipated a "good opportunity" adding that the election works are going well

10 people, including 4 women killed in mishap in TN fireworks factory

Ten people including four women were killed in an explosion at a fireworks factory in this district on Saturday. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin directed two state ministers to coordinate the rescue and relief activities. The Chief Minister said a sudden explosion in a firecracker manufacturing unit in Kundayiruppu village in Vembakottai resulted in the death of ten people - six men and four women. He has directed State Revenue Minister K K S S R Ramachandran and Labour Minister C V Ganesan to immediately rush to the spot and ensure rescue and relief activities, an official release here said. Expressing anguish over the accident, the Chief Minister conveyed his heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the bereaved families. He has ordered a solatium of Rs 3 lakh each to the kin of the deceased and Rs one lakh to the grievously injured. The mishap occurred around 12.30 pm on Saturday in the chemical mixing room of the firecracker making unit in the village. "Initially 9 persons

Tamil film industry executive charge-sheeted in LTTE revival case

The NIA has filed a charge sheet in a special court in Tamil Nadu against one more accused -- a production executive in the local film industry -- in a case related to the revival of the LTTE in Sri Lanka and India. Lingam A alias Adilingam is the 14th accused to be charge-sheeted in the case registered in 2022 in which 16 people have been arraigned as accused so far, the anti-terror federal agency said. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) said Adilingam has been charged with conspiring and acting to revive the proscribed terror organisation through illegal trade in narcotic drugs and arms. Adilingam had also acted as an agent for collection of hawala money obtained from the sale of narcotic drugs that were being further distributed to promote Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) activities, it said. In the supplementary charge sheet filed before the Special Court for NIA Cases at Poonamallee in Chennai, the NIA has elaborated on the role of Adilingam in the entire ...

Workers at Apple supplier Flex's Tamil Nadu plant stage one-day strike

Many electronics manufacturers in India, including Foxconn and Pegatron, lack a union, while automobile factories have higher levels of organising, according to labour welfare workers

TN CM Stalin criticises Centre's handling of farmers' protest in Delhi

The 'Delhi Chalo' march of the farmers from Punjab against the central government entered the third day on Thursday

SC proposes to inspect closed Vedanta group's copper plant in Tamil Nadu

The Supreme Court on Wednesday proposed a panel of domain experts to inspect the closed Sterlite copper unit in Tamil Nadu's Tuticorin and suggest further compliances and way forward, saying shutting down a plant of national importance will not serve anybody's purpose. The plant is closed since May 2018 after 13 people were killed as police opened fire to quell a protest over alleged pollution caused by it. The top court, while hearing a plea by the Vedanta group company, mooted the idea of setting up of a panel of experts and sought views of the firm, the Tamil Nadu government and the state pollution control board. Ultimately, shutting down the plant of national importance will not serve anybody's purpose, a bench comprising Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra observed. The bench, however, made it clear that it cannot grant permission to the firm to refurbish the plant as an interim order. The bench, which heard the submissions of senior advoca

TN TRB SGT 2024 registration begins, candidates can apply for 1768 seats

The application process begins for 1,768 secondary grade teachers (SGT) by the Tamil Nadu Teacher Recruitment Board (TN TRB) today. Here's how to apply for the registration

TN attracted Rs 9.65 trillion investments since DMK took charge: Minister

Recently, the Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet 2024 secured investments amounting to Rs 6.64 trillion and approximately 2.6 million jobs for the state

TN Governor Ravi's 'personal' remarks made in Assembly 'expunged': Speaker

Tamil Nadu Speaker M Appavu on Monday said 'personal' remarks made by Governor RN Ravi during his customary address to the House have been 'expunged,' on a day that saw yet another face-off between the Raj Bhavan and the ruling DMK in the state. His statement came after Ravi concluded his customary address within minutes after starting it, making some remarks. "What he read from (from the prepared speech) is fine. After that he made some personal remarks which have been expunged," Appavu told reporters. To a question on the national anthem, on which too Ravi made some remarks, the Speaker said it is played last on the day of the Governor's address. Citing House rules, he said the proceedings start with the Tamil invocation song 'Tamil Thaai Vazhthu,' followed by the Governor's address, and upon completion of that, "finally, the national anthem is played.

SC dismisses TN Football Association's plea against appointment committee

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea by the Tamil Nadu Football Association challenging a Madras High Court order appointing a committee to look into the affairs of the football body till a new administrative panel is appointed. Observing that the plea was an abuse of the process of law, a bench of Justices Surya Kant and K V Viswanathan also imposed a cost of Rs 50,000 on the office bearers of the Tamil Nadu Football Association, including its president Jesiah Villavarayar. The apex court directed that the cost be deposited with the Supreme Court Middle Income Group Legal Aid Services. It also directed its registry to list the matter as a contempt petition on its own if the members fail to deposit the cost amount. It made clear that the office bearers shall not reimburse the cost from the association. "The problem is that you are not spending money from your pocket so you don't know the pain of litigation. You are spending public money. This is all self promotion and abuse

StartupTN launches Smart Card to boost entrepreneurs at early stage

StartupTN has launched Smart Card and other new initiatives to meet the needs of aspiring entrepreneurs in the early stage of building their startup. StartupTN is backed by the Tamil Nadu government and aims to nurture a vibrant startup ecosystem in the state to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship-driven employment and economic growth. The Smart Card initiative offers a comprehensive selection of products and services at subsidised rates to entrepreneurs. Some of the services offered pertain to legal and compliance, marketing and business consulting, finance and insurance, and software and information technology, among others. Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises T M Anbarasan launched the Smart Cards at an event here recently, and gave away 10 Smart Cards to startups on the occasion. In a statement on Sunday, StartupTN said it has collaborated with various partners to provide a diverse range of products and services to equip budding entrepreneurs with essential .

Nadda to pep up TN BJP for LS polls during his Chennai visit on Feb 11

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president J P Nadda will pep up the party's Tamil Nadu unit in facing the upcoming Lok Sabha election when he pays a day's visit to the state on February 11. He is likely to meet the Parliamentary Committee members in a close door meeting and assess the organisational preparedness for the poll, a senior leader said on Friday. Also, Nadda would address the party's rally in the evening, he said. As the party is gearing up for the Sunday rally, the police 'denied' permission to the BJP to take out a procession in the city citing traffic congestion. The saffron party is scouting for a venue. Another senior leader said that the venue for the rally to be addressed by Nadda will be finalised soon. "The national president would address the members of the Parliamentary committees which have been formed in facing the election. He is likely to suggest some strategies too," state vice president M Chakravarthy told PTI. Aiming to send more MPs to the ...

Lal Salaam trailer is out, Rajinikanth's movie to release on Friday

Superstar Rajinikanth and Vishnu Vishal starrer Lal Salaam's trailer is out now. The movie is directed by Aishwarya Rajinikanth and it will hit theatres on Friday, February 9, 2024

Leaders pay tributes to Ex-TN CM Annadurai on his death anniversary

Leaders and cadres from the Dravidian majors paid floral tributes to Tamil Nadu's iconic leader and former Chief Minister C N Annadurai on his 55th death anniversary on Saturday. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin, who could not lead the peace march in Chennai on the occasion due to his overseas trip to Spain to woo the investors into the state, paid homage to Annadurai's portrait. Posting a picture of him paying tributes on the social media platform X, Stalin urged his party men to strive tirelessly to install a new government at the Centre. The DMK members led by the party's general secretary and state Water Resources Minister Duraimurugan led a rally from Anna Statue on Wallajah Road to the memorial at Anna Square. The party's MPs including Kanimozhi, MLAs and cadres participated. They paid floral tributes to a decorated portrait of their party founder. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, accompanied by his party leaders and workers, too, paid homage to Annadurai

As Vijay floats political party, a list of others who tried before him

Actor Vijay political party: The 49-year-old actor issued an official statement saying that his newly-floated party would be contesting the 2026 assembly polls in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Actor Vijay enters politics with 'Tamilaga Vetri Kazham' party

Renowned South Indian actor Vijay has declared that his newly launched party will not be contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and will not extend support to any other party