The foundation stone for a new Village Knowledge Centre (VKC) was laid at Thirupayathankudi panchayat in Nagapattinam district on Sunday.
District Collector P. Akash presided over the event, which was organised under the Nabard scheme by the Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Corporation (TADCO). The project has been allocated ₹127.49 lakh for construction. Tamil Nadu TADCO Chairman U. Madhivanan and Nagapattinam MLA J. Mohamed Shanavas were present.
The Village Knowledge Centre will be a two-storey building with an area of 381.16 square metres (4,102.81 square feet). The ground floor, spanning 207 square metres, will include an administrative office, a skill training hall, and toilets. The first floor, measuring 174.13 square metres, will house a computer lab, a library, training rooms, an instructor’s office, and toilets. Officials said the centre would serve as a hub for skill development, digital literacy, and community-based learning for local residents.
As part of the event, financial aid worth ₹21.46 lakh was distributed under various Tamil Nadu government welfare schemes. Under the Nannilam Magalir Nila Udaiyamai Thittam (NMUT) scheme, ₹9.67 lakh was granted to a beneficiary for land purchase. Under the Chief Minister’s Adi Dravidar and Tribal Socio-Economic Development Scheme, ₹9.79 lakh was provided to a beneficiary for purchasing a tourist vehicle while ₹2 lakh was given to another beneficiary to start a grocery shop.
Officials emphasised that the Village Knowledge Centre will play a crucial role in enhancing access to education, skills training, and economic opportunities for the local community.
