Free food scheme for sanitation workers
- This scheme has been launched for the first time in the country in Chennai Corporation
- The Chief Minister launched the scheme to provide free food to sanitation workers in the Chennai Metropolitan Corporation on 16.11.25.
- The event for this was held at Kalaivanar Arangam.
- A fund of Rs. 64 crore has been allocated annually for this scheme.
- Food will be provided to sanitation workers working in rotation in the Chennai Metropolitan Corporation in the morning, afternoon and night.
- This scheme has been brought in to appreciate the incomparable work of sanitation workers during times of disaster such as heat, rain and flood
- For the welfare of sanitation workers, many schemes have been implemented such as the establishment of the Sanitation Workers Welfare Board in 2006, provision of loans to entrepreneurs through TADCO, and medical insurance.
- This scheme, which has been launched in Chennai, will be expanded to all the corporations and municipalities of Tamil Nadu from Dec. 6, the Chief Minister said.
Tribal Welfare Department
- The Tribal Welfare Directorate was formed to formulate and implement appropriate schemes for the development of the tribal people and has been functioning with full financial and administrative powers since 01.04.2018.
- Tribal people constitute 1.17 percent of the total population.
- Tribal project offices have been opened in 7 districts namely Salem (Yerkadu, Pachamalai, Arunuthumalai and Kalvarayan Malai), Namakkal (Kollimalai), Kallakurichi (Kalvarayan Malai), Tiruvannamalai (Javvadumalai), Tiruchirappalli (Pachamali), Dharmapuri (Sittheri Malai) and Tirupattur Jawvadu and Yelagirimalai) which have 10 Integrated Tribal Development Project Areas where tribals live for 50 percent or more of the total population. Welfare schemes are being implemented in these districts.
- The main objective of the department is to improve the socio-economic status of the tribals by providing them with welfare assistance for the educational advancement and livelihood of the tribals and by creating basic facilities in their settlements.
- There are 37 types of tribes in Tamil Nadu.
- Out of these, 6 tribal groups namely Thoda, Kotha, Kurumbas, Irular, Baniya and 41 Kattunayakan have been classified as Threatened Tribes (PVTGs).
- The Tribal Sub-Plan has been implemented since 1976-77.
- One percent of the amount allocated to all departments under the Annual Action Plan of the State Government is used for the welfare of the tribals.
Tribal Research Centre
- The “Tribal Research Centre” was established in 1983 at Muthorai Palada in Udhagamandalam, Nilgiris district with the financial assistance of the Union Government to collect information about the tribals and to conduct research on their lifestyle, culture, language, socio-economic status and educational status.
- The centre is functioning under the leadership of a Director with expertise in anthropology.
‘Meendum Manjapai’ Scheme
- The ‘Meendum Manjapai’ scheme was launched by the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu to encourage the public to use cloth bags and to discourage the use of plastic bags.
- The ‘ Meendum Manjapai’ scheme was launched by the Chief Minister at the Kalaivanar Arangam in Chennai on December – 21.
- This awareness campaign on the use of ‘yellow’ cloth bags or ‘manjapai’ as it is called in Tamil, aims to encourage people to use this eco-friendly bag and to dispose of plastic bags.
‘Nalam Kaakum Stalin’
- Public Welfare Department officials have said that 8.21 lakh people have benefited under the ‘Nalam Kaakum Stalin’ scheme so far.
- The Chief Minister launched the ‘Nalam Kaakum Stalin’ scheme in all the districts of Tamil Nadu on August 2.
- This scheme is implemented by the Public Welfare Department.
- Examinations and special treatments are provided by medical experts under the departments of general medicine, general surgery, heart health, orthopedics, neurology, skin health, ear-nose-throat and obstetrics, physiotherapy, dentistry, mental health, child health, pulmonary medicine, and Indian medicine.
Tamil Nadu’s survival rate has improved
- By setting up specialized centers for pediatric emergency care, Tamil Nadu has significantly improved the survival rates of children in recent years.
- The state’s Pediatric Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine (PREM) initiative has strengthened pediatric emergency care through dedicated protocols and appropriate infrastructure in government secondary care institutions, district headquarters hospitals and taluka hospitals.
- The PREM (Pediatric Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine) initiative of the Tamil Nadu National Health Mission and the Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project has strengthened pediatric emergency care by placing protocols, necessary infrastructure, equipment, medicines and trained personnel
- The data shows a steady rise in child survival rates from 93.44% in 2021 to 96.26% in 2024. In the current year (till August 2025), the survival rate is 94.34%.PREM Skills Laboratory, ICH, Madras Medical College Regional Collaborative Centre. ‘Guidelines have been developed’
Neelam Cultural Centre – Honors Scholar.
- Researcher and scholar V. Geetha has been awarded the ‘Scholars Raj Gauthaman Memorial Award’ presented by Neelam Cultural Centre, Chennai
- Vasuki Bhaskar, editor of Neelam magazine, has already established a fellowship scheme in the name of the renowned scholar for students.
Neelam Cultural Centre
- The centre was established in 2015.
- Founder – Director P. Ranjith
- Category – Socio-political organisation
- Headquarters – Tamil Nadu, India
- The Vaanam Art Festival has been organised annually since 2018 to promote artists from marginalised communities.
