Latest news with #Irular
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Lights, camera, action
It's that season again when a collector steps in, camera crew in tow, not to fix anything but to yell at people for a taste of power. This episode stars the Tiruvallur collector, who turned a school inspection into a full-blown reality show, schooling teachers like they were students. Of course, it was all captured on camera. After all, what's governance without a little public shaming? The real show-stopper? In this season of yell before verifying, the collector, misled by the BDO, lashed out at an Irular headman in Vempedu village, humiliating the community. His mortal sin? Building a house with the help of the NGO. Turns out, the word, sorry was omitted from the 'misuse of power' dictionary. Meanwhile, on Instagram, the collector is seen praising an artist accused of harassment, right before delivering sermons to school teachers on discipline. Maybe the allegation escaped his notice; he was probably too busy rehearsing his next on-camera outburst to perfection. -Rajalakshmi Sampath Icarus of DMK Once the DMK's poster boy, senior leader K Ponmudy has been conspicuously cropped out of the party banners during the two-day DMK central district executive meet at Kalaignar Arivalayam. Instead, M R K Panneerselvam wielded a wide grin on every banner. Ponmudy's home turf and stronghold in Villuppuram has slipped right out of his fingers. The red carpet has been rolled out to Panneerselvam, with the crown of zonal-in-charge falling right onto his head recently. Since Ponmudy's fall from grace over his controversial remarks on religion and women, the omission seems no accident. Party insiders say Chief Minister M K Stalin's cold shoulder has gone public, and Ponmudy's supporters are feeling the chill. -Krithika Srinivasan Zero compassion clause Evictions are usually carried out with some unspoken rules to soften the blow, especially to children. Their belongings are all packed away beforehand, and officials ensure that no children witness their houses fall. However, at Anakaputhur, the evictions wreaked havoc on the financial and mental stability of the families. Under the orders of the high court, houses were bulldozed like a pack of cards. Children, who did not have time to pick up their toys or books, watched on as their houses turned to dust. Residents are furious, their life savings have been demolished, they are being packed away to apartments in Kancheepuram and are clueless as to how to restart their lives. Some of them vowed never to vote for the DMK again. The irony? One of the evicted settlements here is, or rather was, called 'Stalin Nagar'. -Nirupama Viswanathan
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- General
- New Indian Express
20 Irular families in Chengai face eviction threat due to patta issue in Chennai
CHENNAI: Twenty Irular families living for decades in a village near Tirukazhkundram in Chengalpattu district now fear displacement after local authorities began inquiries a few weeks ago. Of the 40 Irular families living in the locality, 20 of them do not have pattas (land title deed). Except one or two, most of them live in permanent dwellings which were constructed with the help of a local trust a few years ago, residents said. The local village panchayat has helped lay roads and install street lights, but the 20 houses without patta have not been given power connection. Members of the families have been working as agricultural labourers in three nearby villages for years, while youngsters study in local schools that are 3-4 km away, said a resident. On May 14, officials from the Thiruporur taluk visited the locality and informed them that no additional pattas would be sanctioned for the Irulars as the land on which they are living is 'meikal poramboke'. The authorities also told them that they would be relocated to a different location where they would get pattas and government-sponsored housing. It is not known what action has been planned on the other 20 families who have received pattas.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Chief minister lays foundation for ECR convention centre
Chennai: Chief minister M K Stalin laid the foundation for Kalaignar International Convention Centre at Muttukadu along East Coast Road on Thursday. The 525 crore, 38-acre project will feature a 10,000-seat exhibition hall, a 5,000-seat convention centre, and a 1,500-seat auditorium across a built-up area of 5.12 lakhsqft. Equipped with modern amenities including central air-conditioning, elevators, EV charging stations, and parking for more than 1,600 cars and 1,700 two-wheelers, the centre is designed to host international summits, trade expos, concerts, and cultural festivals. Now, Chennai's major events are held at YMCA grounds or college campuses, often causing traffic snarls and logistical challenges. Expos occur at the Chennai Trade Centre, where traffic is a major issue. The Muttukadu centre, located just outside city limits, is expected to provide a spacious and efficient alternative, improving traffic flow and reducing disruption in residential areas, said an PWD official said. Stalin also inaugurated key infrastructure projects totalling 499.08 crore. These include the four-laning ofMalliyakarai-Rasipuram-Tiruchengode-Erode road in Namakkal, a new flyover in Madurai, and housing units for Irular families in Ranipet. The 424.38 crore road upgrade, part of the Chennai-Kanyakumari Industrial Corridor with Asian Development Bank funding, will ease traffic in Pallipalayam and boost connectivity between Namakkal and Erode. In Madurai's Palanganatham, Stalin opened a 730-metre road overbridge built at 68.38 crore to replace a congested railway crossing. In Melpakkam, Ranipet, Stalin inaugurated 6.32 crore-worth resettlement housing for 41 displaced Irular families, complete with basic amenities like an anganwadi, water tank, and community hall. He inaugurated 49 urban administration and water supply projects worth 571.92 crore across Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu. These included new school buildings, playgrounds, sanitation facilities, underground drainage systems, bridges, market complexes, coastal beautification works, and housing units. Key projects include three major underground drainage schemes in Chennai's Pallikaranai, Mughalivakkam, and Madipakkam areas worth 188.55 crore, a new 21 crore bridge in Perungudi, and road and community improvements in multiple municipalities. Stalin also launched 50 new municipal vehicles, including water sprinklers, hydraulic machines, sanitation vehicles, and school buses, enhancing civic services.
The Hindu
29-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
T.N.'s SimpleGov offers simplified procedure to get 10 services from eight departments
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Thursday launched 'SimpleGov' that has simplified the existing process of various services and schemes offered by the government. The new initiative by the Human Resources Management Department aims to provide 10 different services from eight government departments to applicants. In the first phase, SimpleGov would help applicants obtain sanitation certificate, public buildings licence, registration of old age homes, licence for working women hostels, registration of homes for women, solvency certificate, list of white category industries under the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board. Applicants would be able to obtain no-objection certificate for using dry lands for non-agricultural purposes, conduct certificate and no-objection certificate for government employees to obtain passport too through SimpleGov, an official release said. 'The Chief Minister has reiterated that the government is for citizens. While the colonial legacy left behind the idea of trust body, this government is taking governance to citizens. This would be among the best programmes in governance and would give real empowerment to common citizens,' said G. Prakash, Secretary of Human Resources Management Department. When asked about portal/s through which the general public could avail of these services, the official said that the links would be shared soon. The Finance Minister in his Budget speech for 2025-26 announced that under the SimpleGov project, initiated to simplify government administrative processes and ensure quick and easy online access to government services, the procedures for obtaining certificates and documents from eight government department were being significantly streamlined. The government said it would include more services in the SimpleGov initiative to ensure transparency. In another event, the Chief Minister also inaugurated several projects completed by the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department at a cost of ₹102 crore. Mr. Stalin also inaugurated Malliakarai-Rasipuram-Tiruchengode-Erode highway that have been upgraded into a four-lane, a railway overbridge in Palanganatham in Madurai district and housing units for 41 Irular families who have been relocated for development works in Ranipet district at a total cost of ₹499 crore. Besides, Mr. Stalin unveiled foundation stone for projects that were to be implemented at a cost of ₹15 crore. He also inaugurated projects that have been implemented by the Commissionerate of Town Panchayats at a total cost of ₹77 crore. He unveiled foundation for new projects to be implemented at ₹18 crore. He also inaugurated new projects by Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board at ₹60 crore. In another event, the Chief Minister distributed cash incentive of ₹50,000 each to nine students living in Sri Lankan Tamils camps, who obtained high marks in Class X, XI and XII. He also launched the 'Uzhavarai Thedi' initiative by the Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department that was to be implemented in about 17,000 villages. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, Ministers K.N. Nehru, E.V. Velu, M.R.K. Panneerselvam, Thangam Thennarasu, Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, S.M. Nasar and N. Kayalvizhi Selvaraj; Chennai Mayor R. Priya; Chief Secretary N. Muruganandam and senior officials participated in these events. On Wednesday, farmers called on Chief Minister in the Secretariat and thanked him for clearing pending dues to the tune of ₹97 crore due to farmers. The payment benefitted over 5,900 farmers who had supplied sugarcanes for cooperative and public sector sugar mills.
NDTV
29-05-2025
- Business
- NDTV
MK Stalin To Inaugurate Permanent Housing For Displaced Irular Families
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will virtually inaugurate newly-built houses for 41 displaced Irular families at Melpakkam village near Arakkonam in Ranipet district on Thursday. The initiative provides permanent rehabilitation to the tribal families who lost their land to a road widening project. In 2023, the State Highways Department acquired patta lands earlier allotted to these families by the district administration for expanding the Kancheepuram-Arakkonam-Tiruttani Road (SH-58). As compensation, the department committed to providing new land and constructing houses at a total cost of Rs 6.32 crore. Each house, built at a cost of Rs 10.70 lakh, spans 355 square feet and includes a living room, bedroom, kitchen and attached toilet. The new residential enclave also features a community hall with a capacity of 100 people, an Anganwadi centre, a small temple, and a protective compound wall. To ensure essential amenities, a 30,000-litre overhead tank has been installed for drinking water supply. Internal roads have been paved with bitumen to facilitate smooth vehicular movement, especially during medical emergencies. Minister for Handlooms and Textiles R. Gandhi, who inspected the site along with District Collector J.U. Chandrakala, interacted with the families and urged them to prioritise education by enrolling their children in nearby schools. He also instructed officials to plant fruit-bearing saplings across the housing area to provide shade and supplementary income in the future. The relocation and housing effort is closely linked to a major infrastructure project - the widening of SH-58 - as part of the Chennai-Kanyakumari Industrial Corridor, under the Centre's East Coast Economic Corridor (ECEC). The ECEC aims to connect key coastal cities including Kolkata, Visakhapatnam, Chennai, and Kanyakumari to promote industrial growth. Funded by the Asian Development Bank, the highway upgrade covers a 41.77 km stretch between Kancheepuram and Tiruttani. The road has been expanded into a 10-metre-wide two-lane corridor with stormwater drains, footpaths, 18 small bridges, and 124 culverts. The project cost is estimated at Rs 359.06 crore and has been under development since mid-2021. The initiative represents a balanced approach to infrastructure development and social responsibility, ensuring affected communities are not left behind in the path of progress.
