
Urudhunai loan scheme launched for Adi Dravidars and Scheduled Tribes
Minister for Adi Dravidar Welfare M. Mathiventhan on Saturday said that the State government will implement the Urudhunai scheme to provide small and micro loans, worth ₹25 crore, at reduced interest rates to small retailers, traders and manufacturers from Adi Dravidar and tribal communities through the National Finance Development Fund.
Making the announcements during the Demands for Grants for the year 2025-26, the Minister said that the loans under this scheme would be provided, with the State government's subsidy, through co-operative banks.
He further said that training would be provided to 500 entrepreneurs to improve the participation of companies owned by Scheduled Castes/Tribes and SC/ST entrepreneurs in public procurement, at a cost of ₹50 lakh. He also announced a new Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar Housing and Development Corporation (TAHDCO) commercial complex scheme at a cost of ₹15 crore, to allow SC/ST communities to kick start businesses in commercial complexes under the control of local bodies.
Mr. Mathiventhan said that SC/ST entrepreneurs, involved in highly technical industries, would be able to start their business immediately through the 'Plug and Play Industrial Parks', which would be set up at a cost of ₹115 crore.
The Minister said that a digital repository of dance and musical traditions of Adi Dravidar and Tribal communities would be created at a cost of ₹1 crore.
He further said the government would strive for equality in death for the communities by building crematoriums and buying special vehicles to transport mortal remains and creating a mobile application at a cost of ₹8 crore. Training would be provided to SC/ST community members pursuing studies in journalism and communication, he added.Department of Posts to tie up with retail chains, e-commerce platforms for parcel delivery
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
NGT slams UP govt over gaps in sewage, waste mgmt report
Agra: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has pulled up the Uttar Pradesh (UP) govt, citing several shortcomings in its report on the status of sewage treatment plants (STPs) and solid and liquid waste management across various districts of the state, including Agra. A three-member bench comprising chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava, Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member A Senthil Vel, in its order released on Saturday, has directed the state to address the deficiencies and submit a revised report in a prescribed format ahead of the next hearing on July 28. According to the green tribunal's six-page order, the state govt's report, dated April 16 and submitted on May 24, "failed to identify critical gaps and did not comply with the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, and relevant Supreme Court (SC) directives". "Against the disclosure of 95% waste processing capacity (19,014 tons per day), the actual segregated waste stands at only 74% (14,884 TPD). This discrepancy needs clarification," the order stated. It further noted that the report failed to explain the operation of waste processing plants lacking mandatory authorisation under the SWM Rules. The tribunal pointed out that while the report covered waste generation in 762 urban local bodies (ULBs), it did not specify the actual quantity of waste being processed. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký It also questioned the claim of 100% remediation of legacy waste at 60 sites, stating that no supporting evidence had been provided. Legacy waste refers to solid waste that has been collected and left untreated for years in landfills or open grounds. "Figures indicate that 60 sites have been remediated and only 26 remain with legacy waste. However, since many ULBs still lack processing facilities, there must be specific disclosure of legacy waste in those areas," the order said. Additionally, the NGT noted the absence of details on the operational status of waste-to-energy plants. The NGT also raised concerns regarding discrepancies in the planning and distribution of STPs. It pointed out that while some cities like Agra, Bijnor, Anupshahar, Chitrakoot Karwi, Pilkhuva, Kannauj, and Bela Pratapgarh have STPs with excessive capacity relative to sewage generation, many others, including Bahraich, Banda, Deoria, Fatehpur, Gonda, Hathras, Sambhal and Bhadohi, do not have STPs at all. It also flagged anomalies such as the case of Garh Mukteshwar, which reports zero sewage generation but has two STPs. The court was hearing the matter in the context of a 2018 SC ruling in Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti & others vs. Union of India & others, which issued key directives for controlling river pollution and improving the treatment of industrial and domestic waste. The apex court had mandated municipalities to ensure functioning STPs and set deadlines for new STPs and common effluent treatment Plants (CETPs), while also allowing the UP govt to approach the NGT to seek modifications in the implementation timelines. The NGT was tasked with monitoring compliance.


India Today
3 hours ago
- India Today
UP to provide 20% reservation to ex-Agniveers in police and fire services
The Uttar Pradesh government will provide 20 per cent reservation to the ex-Agniveers in the state police and fire department, an official said on state government issued an order regarding the same on June Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday said it will provide 20 per cent reservation to ex-Agniveers in direct recruitment for several positions in the state The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi to reporters after the meeting, Uttar Pradesh Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna on Tuesday said the move aimed to provide meaningful post-service opportunities to Agniveers, who have completed their four-year term under the Agnipath scheme."This is a significant decision. The reservation will be applicable across categories - General, SC, ST and OBC. If an ex-Agniveer belongs to the SC category, the reservation will apply within SC, if OBC, then within OBC," he age relaxation of up to three years will also be provided to former Agniveers applying for these posts, he are four categories - police constable, PAC constable, mounted police and fireman - for which recruitment will be done. The first batch of recruits under this system will come out in 2026, Khanna states and central forces have already taken the initiative to provide reservations to Agniveers. States like Haryana and Odisha have offered 10 per cent reservation to former Agniveers. The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has now approved 20 per cent horizontal reservation, which is a bold and generous initiative," the minister not only recognises their service but ensures that they continue contributing to the nation's security infrastructure after their military stint, he Centre introduced the Agnipath scheme in 2022 for short-term induction of personnel in the Army, Navy and Air Force with an aim to bring down the age profile of the three Reel IN THIS STORY#Uttar Pradesh#Yogi Adityanath


Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
UP govt to give 20% reservation in police, fire services to ex-Agniveers
The Uttar Pradesh government will provide 20 per cent reservation to the ex-Agniveers in the state police and fire department, an official said on Saturday. The state government issued an order regarding this on June 6. The Uttar Pradesh government on Tuesday said that it will provide 20 per cent reservation to ex-Agniveers in direct recruitment to several positions in the state police. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Join new Free to Play WWII MMO War Thunder War Thunder Play Now Undo The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath . Speaking to reporters after the meeting, UP Finance Minister Suresh Kumar Khanna on Tuesday said the move aims to provide meaningful post-service opportunities to Agniveers, who have completed their four-year term under the Agnipath scheme . Live Events "This is a significant decision. The reservation will be applicable across categories -- General, SC, ST and OBC. If an ex-Agniveer belongs to the SC category, the reservation will apply within SC; if OBC, then within OBC," he explained. Special age relaxation of up to three years will also be provided to former Agniveers applying for these posts, he added. There are four categories -- police constable, PAC constable, mounted police and fireman -- for which recruitment will be done. The first batch of recruits under this system will come out in 2026, Khanna said. "Several states and central forces have already taken the initiative to provide reservations to Agniveers. States like Haryana and Odisha have offered 10 per cent reservation to former Agniveers. The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet has now approved 20 per cent horizontal reservation, which is a bold and generous initiative," the minister said. This not only recognises their service but ensures that they continue contributing to the nation's security infrastructure after their military stint, he said. The Centre introduced the Agnipath scheme in 2022 for short-term induction of personnel in the Army, Navy and Air Force with an aim to bring down the age profile of the three services.