Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu presented the Budget for the year 2024-25, and made a slew of announcements.
TN Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu presenting the state Budget 2024-25. (Screengrab)
The DMK Government in Tamil Nadu presented the budget for 2024-25 on Monday, 19 February, riding on populist “dreams”, similar to Congress “guarantees”, with social justice and women’s welfare as its core programmes.
Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu presented Tamil Nadu Budget 2024-2025 and made a slew of focused 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, the welfare of the marginalised, and making Tamil youth global achievers were among the seven goals, Thennarasu said in his budget speech.
#TamilNaduBudget2024: Tamil Nadu Finance Minister @TThenarasu presents budget for 2024-25 in state Assembly, outlines 7-point objective, the 'seven grand Tamil dream' including social justice in Budget. pic.twitter.com/dvSMCZWaCS
— South First (@TheSouthfirst) February 19, 2024
Saying that the budget was built on seven pillars the finance minister said: “Virtues are the bedrock of a government. This government, which is functioning on these ideals, under the leadership of our chief minister, has a grand Tamil dream.”
“Akin to the colours of a rainbow, this dream has seven major objectives,” he added.
The objectives of the “dream”, according to the minister are:
Among others, he announced allocating ₹300 crore in the Budget for civic amenities, including roads for areas near city corporations.
Thennarasu also said that the state has made very significant progress in poverty reduction through its welfare schemes. NITI Aayog has said that people below the poverty line in Tamil Nadu was only about 2.2 percent, he added.
The state Finance Minister said that his government is committed to bringing about 5 lakh very poor families out of poverty in two years.
Speaking about the Chief Minister’s Breakfast scheme, Thennarasu announced that ₹600 crore has been allocated to expand the scheme to government-aided primary schools in rural areas.
Thennarasu also informed that ₹13,720 crore has been allocated for the DMK government’s flagship scheme — “Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam” (Kalaignar Women’s Rights Grant Scheme), the ₹1,000 per month assistance plan for women.
He further announced ₹35,000 crore allocation in the budget for the formation of 10,000 new women SHGs.
A detailed project report would be prepared for the restoration of major rivers in Tamil Nadu. The state government has allotted ₹1,500 crore for the Adyar river restoration initiative, he said.
The Tamil Nadu government will also meet the higher education expenses of transgenders, with an allocation of ₹2 crore, and it will be implemented through the transgender welfare board.
TN Finance Minister announced ₹1,000 crore for the development of rural roads in the state budget. He also announced ₹1,000 crore North Chennai Development scheme.
(With PTI inputs)
May 19, 2024
May 18, 2024
May 18, 2024
May 18, 2024
May 18, 2024
May 16, 2024
