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In the past four years, about 40 lakh individuals got employment and the Naan Mudhalvan skill development programme helped 2.6 lakh students get jobs, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said on Thursday.
Chairing a virtual meeting of the CM’s Economic Advisory Council (EAC), Mr. Stalin said about 1.14 crore women were receiving monthly financial aid under the Kalaignar Mahalir Urimai Thogai programme.
Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu, Chief Secretary N. Murugandam, Finance Secretary T. Udhayachandran, and EAC members Professor Esther Duflo, Professor Raghuram Rajan, Dr. Arvind Subramanian, Professor Jean Dreze, and Dr. S. Narayan were present at the meeting.
Due to the Pudhumai Penn programme that provided a monthly financial aid to girl students in government-run schools, the drop-out rate has declined, and their enrolment in higher education institutions has gone up, the Chief Minister says.
The Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme has been benefitting 17.53 lakh students and it has improved their attendance, nutrition and learning abilities, he said.
The free bus travel scheme for women has increased their participation in the workforce and has further contributed to their economic participation, Mr. Stalin said.
“Recently, we submitted our representation to the 16th Finance Commission of our valid demands over the devolution of funds for developed States such as Tamil Nadu. We hope that this Finance Commission would have a progressive approach,” he said.
