TN Budget: The Tamil Nadu Finance Minister presented the state budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 on Monday. The focus of the announcements was on achieving the “7 grand Tamil dream,” which includes goals such as social justice, the welfare of marginalized communities, empowering Tamil youth globally, building a knowledge-based economy, promoting gender equality and women’s welfare, ensuring a sustainable future, and preserving Tamil language and culture.
Thangam Thennarasu, who took over as the finance minister, started his first budget speech by quoting a couplet from Thirukkural, a work by the saint poet Thiruvalluvar.
He highlighted the challenges faced by Tamil Nadu, including frequent natural disasters and what he perceived as neglect from the Union government. Thennarasu expressed concern that the state is not receiving adequate support from the central government, emphasizing the importance of cooperative federalism.
TN Budget 2024 Highlights
- Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme extended to rural government-aided schools, benefitting around 2.5 lakh students.
- Vada Chennai Development Scheme announced to improve North Chennai with a budget of Rs 1,000 crore.
- Tamil Nadu government to acquire 500 electric buses for a sustainable future.
- Free bus travel for women extended to hilly regions like Nilgiris, Kodaikanal, and Valparai.
- Kalaignarin Kanavu Illam scheme was introduced to make Tamil Nadu ‘hut-free’ by 2030, with Rs 3,500 crore allocated for building eight lakh houses in rural areas.
- Chief Minister’s Thayumanavar scheme was announced to uplift five lakh families from poverty with a budget of Rs 27,922 crore.
- The tholkudi scheme was introduced to enhance the living standards of tribal communities with a budget of Rs 1,000 crore.
- Rs 13,720 crore allocated for Kalaignar Urimai Thogai.
- Tamizh Pudhalvan scheme was introduced to help boy students from marginalized backgrounds pursue higher education with a budget of Rs 360 crore.
- Tamil Nadu government to cover educational expenses including tuition and hostel fees of transgender students, with an additional Rs 2 crore allocated to the Transgender Welfare Board.
- Rs 5 crore was allocated for archaeological excavations in eight locations across Tamil Nadu and four sites outside the state.
- Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar Puthumai Penn scheme extended to provide Rs 1000 monthly assistance to female students from government-aided Tamil medium schools pursuing higher education.
- Pilot study to explore deep-sea excavation in partnership with the National Institute of Ocean Technology and the Indian Maritime University with a budget of Rs 65 lakhs.
- Rs 3,300 crore was allocated for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
- An additional Rs 500 crore was allocated for the Singara Chennai project.
- New ‘Thozhi’ hostels are to be established for women in Chennai, Coimbatore, and Madurai for Rs 26 crore.
- Restoration of 5,000 water bodies in Tamil Nadu through community participation with a budget of Rs 500 crore.
- Film city to be established near Chennai for Rs 500 crore.
- Renovation of Adyar canal for Rs 1500 crore.
- Four Olympic academies are to be set up in Chennai, Madurai, Trichy, and Nilgiris with Rs 440 crore allocated for youth welfare and sports development.
- Rs 5 crore was allocated to offer financial assistance to firms developing AI, machine learning, and large language models for the Tamil language.
- Bill to establish ‘Tamil Nadu State Highways’ to be introduced.
- Rs 120 crore was allocated to promote SC/ST entrepreneurs under the Annal Ambedkar Business Champions Scheme.
- Rs 10 crore was allocated for the repair of mosques and dargahs, and Rs 10 crore for the repair of churches in Chennai, Sivagangai, and Cuddalore.
- Kalaignar International Convention Centre is to be constructed in Muttukadu, Chennai.
- Ten mini textile parks are to be established in Karur, Erode, and Virudhunagar for Rs 20 crore.
- New classrooms are to be constructed, including 15,000 smart classes at an estimated cost of Rs 300 crore.
- A New Tamil Nadu House named ‘Vaigai’ is to be established in New Delhi at Rs 257 crore, following traditional Dravidian architectural design.
Also Read: Tamil Nadu Budget 2024: South’s First Budget With Finance Minister Thangam
Women’s Welfare Measures in TN Budget 2024
In the TN budget for the upcoming year in Tamil Nadu, a lot of money is being set aside to help women and make their lives better. They are giving around Rs 7,830 crore to help with social welfare and empower women. Another big chunk, about Rs 13,720 crore, is being given to a special program called ‘Magalir Urimai Thittam’, which is all about making life better for women.
They are also extending a program called ‘Vidiyal Payana Thittam’ to let women travel for free on buses in places like Nilgiris, Kodaikanal, and Valparai. This will cost about Rs 3,050 crore. They are giving Rs 370 crore to help girls from poor families go to school in Tamil medium schools.
The government also wants to make sure that kids in rural areas get a good breakfast. They are spending Rs 600 crore to give breakfast to about 2.5 lakh kids from Class 1 to Class 5.
They are also giving a lot of money, around Rs 3,123 crore, to help kids grow up healthy and strong through something called the Integrated Child Development Scheme.
And finally, they are building special hostels called ‘Thozhi’ for working women in cities like Chennai, Coimbatore, and Madurai. This will cost about Rs 26 crore. These hostels will give women a safe and affordable place to stay while they work.
Transgender People Welfare
The government has decided to pay for all the educational costs of transgender individuals who want to go to college, including tuition and hostel fees. They are also giving an extra Rs 2 crore to the Transgender Welfare Board in the TN budget.
Following the advice of a committee led by former Justice K Chandru, the government will create a special place called ‘Poonjolai’ in Coimbatore. This place will have lots of helpful facilities like skill training centers, counseling rooms, a library, a room for family visits, a medical check-up room, and even a park and playground for kids.
Education Welfare
In the upcoming year, the government has allocated a significant amount of Rs 44,042 crore for the School Education Department. This budget will cover various initiatives, including the construction of new classrooms with an investment of Rs 1,000 crore. Additionally, around 15,000 smart classrooms will be established in government middle and elementary schools, costing approximately Rs 300 crore. These efforts aim to enhance the learning environment and infrastructure in schools across the region.
For Higher Education, the government has set aside Rs 8,212 crore. A new scheme, costing Rs 3,014 crore, will focus on upgrading 45 polytechnic colleges to meet Industry 4.0 standards. Moreover, the government will cover the entire educational expenses of 28,749 students enrolled in professional courses under the 7.5% reservation scheme.
Furthermore, initiatives like establishing a grand library and science center in Coimbatore and implementing the ‘Tamizh Pudhalvan’ scheme to assist boys from marginalized backgrounds underline the government’s commitment to improving educational opportunities and standards.
Health and Family Welfare
The Health and Family Welfare Department has been allocated a total of Rs 20,198 crore. Additionally, Rs 243 crore has been set aside for the Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvar program, which aims to provide healthcare services directly to people at their homes.
Furthermore, there will be an increase in the coverage for free treatment post-accident, with the amount raised from one lakh rupees to two lakh rupees. The government is also investing in enhancing medical facilities by equipping government hospitals with intensive care units containing 50 beds each in various locations, including Ramanathapuram, Ariyalur, Kancheepuram, Ranipet, Theni, and Salem, for Rs 142 crore. Additionally, de-addiction centers will be established in 25 government hospitals, with a budget of Rs 20 crore.
TN Budget: Welfare of Labour
The government plans to establish 10 new Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in different districts like Cuddalore, Dindigul, Krishnagiri, Namakkal, Pudukkotai, Ramanathapuram, Tirupathur, Tiruvarur, Tiruvannamalai, and Thoothukudi. These institutes will have smart classrooms to improve student’s learning abilities. This initiative will cost Rs 111 crore.
Management of local government and distribution of Water Resources
A total of Rs 25,858 crore has been set aside for managing municipal affairs and providing water resources in the TN budget. Additionally, about 4,457 kilometers of urban roads will be improved with an investment of Rs 2,500 crore, combining various schemes.
Furthermore, the second phase of the Hogenakkal combined water supply project will commence, costing Rs 7,890 crore. This initiative is expected to benefit around 40 lakh residents living in different urban and rural areas across Hosur, Krishnagiri, and Dharmapuri districts.
Rural Development
To make Tamil Nadu free of huts by 2023, the government plans to construct eight lakh concrete houses in rural areas. The first phase will see the building of one lakh new houses, each costing Rs 3.50 lakh, in the upcoming year.
A new scheme called ‘Kalaignarin Kanavu Illam’ will be launched, costing Rs 3,500 crore, to help the poor build their dream homes. The government’s Mudhalvarin Grama Salaigal Membattu Thittam aims to improve road networks in remote villages, with 2,000 kilometers of road development planned for Rs 1,000 crore in the coming year.
Additionally, the Anaithu Grama Anna Marumalarchi Thittam-II will be implemented in 2,482 village panchayats, costing around Rs 1,147 crore. Moreover, the government plans to construct 2,000 new overhead tanks in rural areas, with a budget of Rs 365 crore.
Furthermore, there is a significant initiative to restore 5,000 water bodies that have deteriorated over time due to encroachment and neglect, with an estimated cost of Rs 500 crore. Lastly, an allocation of Rs 3,300 crore has been set aside for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.
TN budget 2024 – Tamil Culture
Efforts are underway to share the rich heritage of Tamil culture with the world by translating two important Tamil literary works, Silappathikaram and Manimegalai, into 25 different languages. This translation initiative, costing Rs 2 crore, aims to introduce the cultural traditions and social values of the Tamil community to a wider audience.
Additionally, the government plans to promote Tamil literature globally by housing translations of significant Tamil literary works in top universities and renowned libraries worldwide. This endeavor seeks to raise awareness about Tamil culture and heritage among scholars and enthusiasts across the globe.
Youth Welfare and Sports Development
The government has set aside Rs 440 crore for the Youth Welfare and Sports Development Department, demonstrating its commitment to nurturing talent and promoting sports among the youth in the TN budget. To achieve this goal, four Olympic Academies will be established in key cities like Chennai, Madurai, Trichy, and the Nilgiris, offering top-notch training in various sports such as badminton, volleyball, basketball, and athletics. These academies will not only provide high-quality coaching but also serve as hubs for sports science research and development.
Furthermore, the Chief Minister’s Youth Festivals will be organized across the state, providing a platform for young individuals to showcase their talents in speech, singing, music, and dance. Additionally, every village panchayat will receive a Kalaignar Sports Kit containing 33 items of exercise and sports equipment, fostering a culture of sports and fitness at the grassroots level.
Moreover, to promote water sports, India’s first Tamil Nadu Olympic Water Sports Academy will be established in Pirappanavalasai, Ramanathapuram district, aiming to kindle interest in marine water sports and create world-class facilities for aquatic sports enthusiasts.
Industrial Development
TN budget 2024: Industrial development in Tamil Nadu is set to witness significant growth with several key projects underway. India’s first PM-MITRA Textile Park, located in Virudhunagar, will kick off development activities this year, with an investment of Rs 1,683 crore. This initiative is expected to generate around two lakh job opportunities, providing a boost to the textile sector.
Additionally, an Integrated textile park will be established by SIPCOT in the Salem district, covering an area of 111 acres. With an estimated investment of Rs 800 crore, this project is anticipated to create around 8,000 job opportunities, further strengthening the textile industry in the region.
Furthermore, ISRO’s endeavor to establish a spaceport in Thoothukudi district for launching Small Satellite Launch Vehicles will pave the way for the development of space-related industries. To complement this initiative, TIDCO will set up a new Space Industrial and Propellant Park spanning 2,000 acres, promoting the growth of space technology industries in the area.
Law and Order
The Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems Project (CCTNS) will be upgraded and changed to CCTNS 2.0. It will become a web-based system where people can file complaints online, and information can be shared between different departments. This upgrade will take place over the next five years and will cost Rs 124 crore.
Highways Development
A total of Rs 20,043 crore has been set aside for the Highways and Minor Ports Department in TN budget 2024.
A new bill will be presented during the current session to create the ‘Tamil Nadu State Highways Authority’. This is intended to encourage big investments in building better roads, mainly through partnerships between the government and private companies.
