Celebrating 365 Days of Good Governance

The Tamil Nadu Government led by Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin, has completed one year of governance that successfully rose to overcome the challenges of Covid pandemic and natural calamities that wreaked havoc on the teeming population of the southern state of India. Bold reforms, innovative initiatives and focus on creating a synergy of all that makes for a prosperous society, including huge impetus to the economy, the report card of the Tamil Nadu Government scores a 10 on 10

If education is the bedrock of a progressive society, health is crucial for creating productive manpower, and focus on channelizing the aptitude and skills of people for industry is the foundation of a strong economy. In a state that is a cultural and pilgrimage hub, life’s values and attaining exalted spirituality is added advantage and what makes Tamil Nadu a ‘humane state’.

IGNITING YOUNG MINDS

The Directorate of Medical Education under Health and Family Welfare Department of the Tamil Nadu Government has planned an ambitious strategy to cover the entire spectrum of Healthcare needs covering every economic strata of the society. Building a robust state-of-the-art infrastructure healthcare facilities, including specialty hospitals, for providing healthcare of global standards, such as establishing Advanced Robotic Surgery Centre at Tamil Nadu Government Multi Super Specialty Hospital in Chennai at a cost of 34.60 crores, were among several concerted efforts of the state government in nurturing a healthy society.

Tamil Nadu was among the worst affected by the Covid pandemic. The state government swung into immediate action beginning with appoint of 3,075 doctors, 5,362 nurses, 1362 medical staff, 626 health inspectors and 5,828 health workers. Tamil Nadu was the first state in recommending and implementing COVID vaccination for Antenatal Mothers for which it was awarded by the Central Government.

Under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme, the Covid testing fees was reduced and 104 HHL were integrated with Unified Command Centre at NHM (National Health Mission). An additional 79,618 beds were increased of which 26,126 are oxygen beds, beside 8,720 Oxygen concentrators were augmented. The capacity of liquid oxygen storage depots was raised to 1513 MT and an additional, 39,542 people benefitted since the launch of ‘Nammai Kakkum 48’ (NK48). An addition, 501 Covid Care Centers (CCC) and 62 AYUSH corona care centres were established while 222 PSA plants were set up in Government Medical College Hospitals and District Health Quarters hospitals.

Some other special initiatives of the state government includes Emergency Care and Recovery Care to rehabilitate wandering mentally ill patients, special counselling to children suffering from “Internet Addiction” disease, Cognitive Rehabilitation Day Care Centres in all Medical College Hospitals for Elderly and Mentally ill patients, and Audiology tests to identify GOVERNANCEdeafness among new born infant etc. An MOU was signed between Sneha suicide prevention centre and 104 health helpline. Even screening for cancer of in-patients in the Geriatric wards in all Government Medical College Hospitals was carried out. The Chief Minister Kalaignar Insurance Scheme covered 1.34 crore families and 3.43 lakh patients were treated at a cost of Rs.873.81 crore. To provide medical services to remote villages the National Health Mission has sanctioned a sum of Rs.70.02 Crores for the procurement of new 389 Mobile Medical Unit Vehicles.

For wider reach of healthcare 369 Hubs and 5,996 Spokes have rendered services to 3,12,63,495 beneficiaries under E-Sanjeevani, while so far a total of 97,34,315 have benefitted from MTW. A whopping health grant of Rs.805.93 crores to the state of Tamil Nadu by FC-XV which comes as a great support to the state government. Other systems of Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy were also supported with 110 wings being upgraded as AYUSH Wellness Centres while other ISM activities were launched at a cost of Rs.32 crore. Besides, the National Health Mission, Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam Programme, of the Tamil Nadu government was extended across the state.

Among its many achievements, Tamil Nadu was awarded for being the first state in recommending and implementing COVID vaccination for Antenatal Mothers.

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Under the Fifteenth Finance Commission Grants for Health, Tamil Nadu was allocated Rs. 4280 crore for a period of 5 years from FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26. Rs.116.30 crore has been approved by PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission, to strengthen the Public Healthcare Infrastructure. Today, Tamil Nadu successfully operates over 7000 Health and Wellness Centers (HWC).

EMPOWERING YOUNG MINDS

MINDSThe School Education Department, Government of Tamil Nadu is playing a very proactive role to make education accessible and affordable for young students coming from every economic strata of the society. The Illam Thedi Kalvi, a flagship remedial education program has been implemented to bridge the learning loss among the students from classes 1 to 8 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Implemented at a cost of Rs 199.961 crores, 30 lakh students have benefitted so far. Also, Naan Mudhalvan Career Guidance portal, costing Rs.3.09 crores, supported students studying of 9th to 12th class, along with career counselling by well-trained professionals.

To provide access to quality education exclusively for girls belonging to disadvantaged groups, the Department has spent Rs.22.83 crores on 61 KGBV residential schools and 44 girls’ hostels, benefitting 9560 girl students. Special focus was also accorded to 1,88,487 school drop outs who were identified and enrolled in schools through a special intervention costing Rs.7.58 crores. Even children with special needs were identified at an early stage and enrolled in appropriate classes with a spending of Rs.93.12 crores.

To address learning gaps, bridge course materials, subject-wise workbooks with worksheets that contain video and assessment, and QR codes, students were provided digital access to the facility at a cost of Rs.34.78 crores. Even special scheme of Model schools was implemented in 10 districts at a cost of Rs.23.32 crores. To encourage reading habits among students libraries were established in every school at a cost of Rs.31.96 crores. Digital Library with 21,043 books and digitization of 2,54,694 manuscript pages of rare books have been done.

Taking education to a new high, 1784 Government middle schools were equipped with Hi-Tech labs at a cost of Rs.114.17 crores and smart classrooms are being set-up in 865 Government upper primary schools at a cost of Rs.20.26 crores.

IMPETUS TO HIGHER EDUCATION

In a bid to encourage higher education, the state government has increased the number of students availing Post Graduate Assistantship in Engineering Colleges. Rs.8.64 crores have been sanctioned for disbursing stipend of Rs.6, 000 per month to Post Graduate students studying in 7 Government institutions. PhD Research courses were started in 10 Government Arts and Science Colleges. To compete in a global market, French, German and Japanese languages are being taught to the students. Also, smart classrooms costing Rs.10 crores are functional in 50 Government Polytechnic Colleges.

For providing healthcare of global standards, Advanced Robotic Surgery Centre was started at Tamil Nadu Government Multi Super Specialty Hospital, in Chennai at a cost of 34.60 crores.

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To encourage innovation and spirit for enterprise, Entrepreneurship Development Hubs were enlisted in Polytechnic Colleges in 5 Regions viz., Chennai, Vellore, Tiruchirappalli, Coimbatore and Thoothukudi. Need based courses were added to support employability. The Innovation Hubs at Regional Science Centre, Coimbatore and Anna Science Centre, Tiruchirappalli have been established at a cost of Rs.3.30 crores and Makers lab have been set-up in the Centre for Entrepreneurship Development (CED) of CEG Campus, Guindy as well as in MIT Campus, Chromepet. The Tamil Nadu Open University has also awarded degrees to 2631 disabled students which is the highest in India.

ENCOURAGING INNOVATION AND ENTERPRISE

Tamil Nadu is a major industrial hub of the country with some of the biggest global and home-grown companies having its facilities in the state, attracted by the easy of doing business and availability of skilled manpower in the state. At investment conclaves, the state government has signed 131 MoUs for investment of Rs.69,375 crores, which will create job opportunities for 2,25,802 persons. To industrialize Tamil Nadu in a big way, the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu Limited (SIPCOT) has allotted 982.39 acres of land to 163 industries and attracted an investment of Rs.17,251.03 crores, thereby providing employment opportunities for about 27,771 persons. Other industrial highlights of the state are Food Parks at three SIPCOT Industrial Parks of SIPCOT, E-Vehicle Park, Medical Devices Park, Working women’s Hostels, Leather Park, Future Mobility Park, Textile Park, Ready Built Factory and Plug & Play Warehousing Facilities.

Issued by: Director of Information and Public Relations, Chennai

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