Latest news with #AdiDravidarandTribalWelfareDepartment
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Tamil Nadu to empower over 60,000 hostel students with life skills and academic support
CHENNAI: In a significant step to enhance educational and personal development among marginalised communities, the Tamil Nadu government's Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department is set to roll out two major initiatives -- Social Labs and Learn-a-Lot -- targeting more than 60,000 students staying in government-run hostels across the state. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The initiatives are specially designed for first-generation learners from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, most of whose families earn less than Rs 2.5 lakh per annum. While basic academic needs are met in these hostels, officials say there remains a gap in providing structured support for skill development, career readiness, and life skills. "According to the Heckman Curve, the highest rate of return on investment in human capital comes from early interventions. These two programmes aim to bridge critical gaps in students' academic and personal growth," a senior department official said. The Social Labs programme will cater to students in 174 college hostels, covering around 12,910 students. Its primary objective is to build employability, boost self-confidence, and foster a mentorship ecosystem. Training modules will include spoken English, personality development, MS Office, Tally, arts, and sports. "The goal is to ensure these students are not just college-ready but job-ready," the official added. On the other hand, the Learn-a-Lot programme is designed for school students residing in 997 hostels, benefitting nearly 44,500 children. This initiative adopts a holistic approach, combining curriculum-based academic support with co-scholastic development and life skill education. Students will receive training in STEM subjects, digital literacy, fine arts, sports, value education, and career guidance. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Recognising the differing needs of school and college students, the department has tailored each programme accordingly. "The difference in both initiatives stems from the stage of life the students are in. Learn-a-Lot focuses on foundational skills, while Social Labs gears students toward professional and interpersonal growth," the official explained. Both programmes will be implemented through a zone-wise strategy and delivered in flexible formats -- online, offline, or blended -- depending on the infrastructure available in each location. Officials believe these initiatives will empower students to unlock their full potential and break the cycle of poverty through education and skill development.
Hans India
4 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
TN to launch ‘Social Labs', ‘Learn-a-Lot' to empower over 60,000 hostel students
Chennai: In a significant step to enhance educational and personal development among marginalised communities, the Tamil Nadu government's Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department is set to roll out two major initiatives -- Social Labs and Learn-a-Lot -- targeting more than 60,000 students staying in government-run hostels across the state. The initiatives are specially designed for first-generation learners from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, most of whose families earn less than Rs 2.5 lakh per annum. While basic academic needs are met in these hostels, officials say there remains a gap in providing structured support for skill development, career readiness, and life skills. 'According to the Heckman Curve, the highest rate of return on investment in human capital comes from early interventions. These two programmes aim to bridge critical gaps in students' academic and personal growth,' a senior department official said. The Social Labs programme will cater to students in 174 college hostels, covering around 12,910 students. Its primary objective is to build employability, boost self-confidence, and foster a mentorship ecosystem. Training modules will include spoken English, personality development, MS Office, Tally, arts, and sports. 'The goal is to ensure these students are not just college-ready but job-ready,' the official added. On the other hand, the Learn-a-Lot programme is designed for school students residing in 997 hostels, benefitting nearly 44,500 children. This initiative adopts a holistic approach, combining curriculum-based academic support with co-scholastic development and life skill education. Students will receive training in STEM subjects, digital literacy, fine arts, sports, value education, and career guidance. Recognising the differing needs of school and college students, the department has tailored each programme accordingly. 'The difference in both initiatives stems from the stage of life the students are in. Learn-a-Lot focuses on foundational skills, while Social Labs gears students toward professional and interpersonal growth,' the official explained. Both programmes will be implemented through a zone-wise strategy and delivered in flexible formats -- online, offline, or blended -- depending on the infrastructure available in each location. Officials believe these initiatives will empower students to unlock their full potential and break the cycle of poverty through education and skill development.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- General
- New Indian Express
TN Adi Dravidar Welfare dept launches ‘social labs' and ‘learn-a-lot' to empower hostel students
CHENNAI: In order to aid its students in reaching their full potential, the state's Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department is set to implement two major initiatives, Social Labs and Learn-a-Lot, aimed at the over 60,000 students residing in school and college hostels run by it across Tamil Nadu. While Social Labs is aimed at students in college hostels, focusing on bridging academic, professional and interpersonal skill gaps, Learn-a-Lot has been designed for students in school hostels, to enhance academic performance along with extracurricular, co-scholastic and life skills. According to officials, most of the students in the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare schools and hostels are from economically backward families earning less than Rs 2.5 lakh per annum and are first-generation learners. Even though the schools and hostels address their academic needs, there is a gap in providing them with the necessary guidance required for them to develop additional skills to unlock their full potential.
The Hindu
26-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
National SC commission to investigate delay in disbursal of relief measure by Adi Dravidar Welfare Department
Based on the complaint filed by a forum, National Commission for Scheduled Castes has informed about its decision to investigate into the matter regarding delay in disbursal of relief measure to the bereaved SC families and also on the alleged reply of the Director of the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department to the Madras High Court against the Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, SC/ST (POA) Rules, 1995 and SC/ST (POA) Amendment Act, 2015. S. Karuppiah, State president, Dalit Liberation Movement of Tamil Nadu had petitioned the commission on May 23, 2025, demanding an action against the Director of the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department for filing an affidavit in the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court which was against the SC/ST (POA) Act, rules and amendment. In 2017, a writ petition was filed by an individual in the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court against the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department for not acting according to the Act and also for delaying the disbursal of relief measures to 18 bereaved SC families who had suffered loss of family members to violent murders in 2014, 2015 and 2016, Mr. Karuppiah said. As more than seven years had passed since the offences were committed, the second relief was not disbursed to the victim's family. The senior official who filed an affidavit in the court for the writ petition on February 7, 2024, stated that 'Since the relief matter pertaining to the 18 families were pending in the court, the department had not released the second part of the relief.' Mr. Karuppiah pointing out to the affidavit, said the writ petition which was filed to expedite the government's action of providing relief, but the senior official citing the very petition, before court had denied the relief to the bereaved family for more than eight years. 'While the reply was insensitive to the pain of the victim's families, it was also against the SC/ST Act 1989, Rules 1995 and Amendment 2015. The Act has stipulated a time period for the release of relief measures and also the duty of the officials in providing relief to the family members,' he added. Condemning the reply, Mr. Karuppiah said he had demanded action against the official under section 4 (Punishment for neglect of duties) of the SC/ST (POA) Act, 1989. The National Commission for SC has accepted the petition and written to Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu and the Secretary to Government, Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department seeking details of the victims and details regarding their compensation within 15 days of receiving the letter. It had also mentioned that it would be investigating the matter under Article 338 of the Constitution of India.
The Hindu
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
T.N. government to digitally document cultural footprints of Adi Dravidar, tribal communities
The Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department has initiated steps for an ambitious project to create a digital repository titled 'Suvadugal' to document and preserve the traditional performing arts of Adi Dravidar and tribal communities across Tamil Nadu. According to official sources, the project aims to digitally archive thousands of indigenous art forms and oral traditions that are gradually fading with time. Tamil Nadu is home to a vibrant array of artistic expressions — from folk dances and musical traditions to the crafting of unique instruments and costumes — all of which are deeply rooted in the cultural fabric of these communities. R. Kaleeswaran, founder of the Alternate Media Centre, a not-for-profit organisation working for the welfare of folk artists, said several art forms practised by Adi Dravidar and tribal communities are now on the verge of extinction. Over 560 art forms are still performed by these communities across the State. Some notable examples include Singari Melam from Dindigul, Radha Kavadi from Nagapattinam, Kaniyan Koothu from Tirunelveli, Periya Melam from Tiruvannamalai, Perum Parai from Anthiyur and Malai Koothu from Dharmapuri. However, many of these traditions remain either under-documented or misrepresented in mainstream cultural narratives. They also face increasing threats due to rapid socio-economic changes and a lack of institutional support, said Mr. Kaleeswaran, who was also the former coordinator of the Art and Literary Unit, Loyola College, Chennai. 'For instance, Bootha Kabala Aatam is a unique ritualistic performance seen only at specific temples in Dharmapuri district. Today, only a handful of artists continue to practise it. Without proper preservation, such traditions may vanish entirely,' he said. The 'Suvadugal' project seeks to document these endangered art forms and musical instruments in audio-visual formats, creating a comprehensive digital archive to ensure their revival and transmission to future generations, he added.
