Larger budget, more projects under Namakku Naame scheme
Chennai: The Tamil Nadu govt has increased the yearly allocations for Namakku Naame Thittam from 100 crore last year to 150 crore this year.In a GO issued by the
rural development
department, the list of permissible work has been expanded to include construction of smart classrooms, school labs, sports courts, indoor auditoriums, kitchen-cum-dining halls, gasifiers at crematoria, and energy-efficient lighting in public spaces.Rural infrastructure such as roads, culverts, bridges, parks, and waste management facilities are also eligible.
Residents must fund at least one-third of the project cost in urban and rural areas, whereas in SC/ST habitations, they can provide one-fifth of the project cost, while the remaining will be borne by the govt.Projects with 50% or higher public contribution can be executed directly by the contributors. District collectors will screen proposals, approve works, and oversee implementation. "However, commercial, religious, and private benefit projects remain ineligible," said an official with the rural development department.For the 2025-26 financial year, 74% of the funds will go to districts based on population, 25% for special projects, and 1% for awareness efforts.The scheme was launched to promote citizen partnership in crucial civic infrastructure work. In cities such as Chennai, it lost steam as residents who took up projects spending more than 50% of the cost did not get the remaining funds from the local body. "We restored roadside parks under the scheme, spending more than 50%, and we entirely paid the contractor. However, the funds didn't reach us. The govt has to increase the funds for the scheme," said R Raman, an Ambattur resident. In some districts, the scheme was successful. At Alagappa College of Engineering in Sivaganga district, the institution's alumni used the scheme to spend 50 lakh to renovate their college. The govt gave the rest.
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