Latest news with #S.Muthusamy
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
85,000 students provided with uniforms, says Minister Muthusamy in Erode
Minister for Housing, Prohibition, and Excise, S. Muthusamy, said that 85,000 students studying in Classes VI to VIII were given uniforms as schools reopened in the district on Monday. In the presence of Collector Raja Gopal Sunkara, Erode MP K.E. Prakash, MLA V.C. Chandhirakumar, and Mayor S. Nagarathinam, the Minister inaugurated a new building block and laboratories worth ₹2.50 crore at the Government Higher Secondary School in Nanjappa Goundan Valasu, Surampatti. The project was funded under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative by Bengaluru-based Alice Blue Financial Services Private Limited, as part of the State government's 'Namma School – Namma Ooru Palli' scheme. Addressing the media, the Minister said that special initiatives by the Education Department helped government schools, which were previously ranked among the bottom 30 positions in the previous public examination results, and that this had significantly improved their pass percentages, with some achieving centum results. He noted that boys tend to score lower marks than girls in examinations and that this gap would be addressed. However, he acknowledged that girls' academic performance has been consistently improving year after year. He also assured that the distribution of uniforms to all students in the district would be completed in the coming days. On the issue of POCSO cases, the Minister revealed that over 250 school-related incidents were reported last year and that immediate action was taken. 'This academic year, preventive measures will be implemented to ensure such issues do not recur,' he said. Responding to AIADMK general secretary and Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami's criticism that the DMK government failed to bring education under the State List, Mr. Muthusamy asserted that the government has been consistently advocating for shifting education from the Concurrent List to the State List. He questioned why, during the AIADMK's 10-year rule, no concrete steps were taken on the matter by the then Chief Minister. Deputy Mayor V. Selvaraj, Chief Education Officer K. Subbarao, Headmaster N. Rajesh, and M. Sidhavelayutham, Founder and CEO of Alice Blue, along with several others, were present at the event.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
CM to inaugurate regional-level agricultural exhibition near Perundurai on June 11
Minister for Housing, Prohibition, and Excise, S. Muthusamy, on Friday said that Chief Minister M.K. Stalin would inaugurate the regional-level agricultural exhibition near the toll gate, near Perundurai, on June 11. Organised by the Department of Horticulture and Plantation Crops, the two-day exhibition and seminar would have participation of government departments and farmers from 10 districts. The Minister laid the foundation for the exhibition and held discussions with officials. The purpose of the exhibition was to raise awareness among farmers, college students, the general public, food processors, and exporters about modern technologies, new crop varieties, agricultural machinery, and value-added processing technologies, he said. As part of the exhibition, 70 stalls would be set up by various government departments while 130 stalls would be set up by private enterprises, including Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs). The exhibition will showcase, modern and traditional seeds, fruit plants, tray seedlings, processed agricultural products, fertilizers, and crop protection chemicals, modern agricultural machinery and micro-irrigation equipment. Services such as e-rental (e-Vaadagai) for machinery, Uzhavan mobile app, and registration for agri-warehousing will also be made available for farmers. Rajya Sabha MP Anthiyur P. Selvaraj, Erode MP K. E. Prakash, Erode East MLA V. C. Chandrakumar, Personal Assistant (Agriculture) to the District Collector Loganathan, and other officials were present.
The Hindu
24-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Work begins to desilt Kalingarayan Canal's baby channel
The Water Resources Department (WRD) has begun work to desilt the baby channel of the Kalingarayan Canal to ensure the free flow of sewage. The 91.1-km-long Kalingarayan Canal, constructed by the Kongu chieftain Kalingarayan in the 13th century, irrigates 15,743 acres across the Erode, Modakkurichi, and Kodumudi taluks. A baby channel was constructed 11 years ago from Bhavani to Vairapalayam to address pollution caused by the dumping of household waste and the discharge of industrial effluents. The project aimed to treat sewage and discharge processed water into the Cauvery River. However, untreated sewage continues to flow directly into the Cauvery, as there is no effluent treatment plant in place. Currently, clogging in the baby channel, caused by weeds and plastic waste, is preventing the flow of water. Farmers and residents have been urging the WRD to undertake desilting of the channel. On Thursday, Minister for Housing, Prohibition, and Excise, S. Muthusamy, inaugurated desilting work along a 20-km stretch of the baby canal, at a total cost of ₹28.25 lakh. The work began from the Kalingarayan anicut in Bhavani up to the 12/3rd mile. An earthmover has been deployed to remove weeds and dumped waste. The Minister stated that the work will be completed within a month, after which the flow of water will no longer be disrupted. The WRD has already submitted a proposal to extend the baby channel by an additional six km, from Vairapalayam to Vendipalayam. The proposal has been approved by the State government. A senior WRD engineer said that the proposal also includes development works in the Kalingarayan Canal, with both projects estimated to cost ₹83.30 crore in total. A government order for the works is expected soon, after which construction will commence.
The Hindu
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Supreme Court correctly assessed the TASMAC case and delivered the right verdict: Excise Minister Muthusamy
Minister for Excise, Prohibition and Housing S. Muthusamy on Thursday said the Supreme Court had correctly assessed the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) case and delivered the right verdict. Addressing journalists in Erode, he said the recent 'raids' by Directorate of Enforcement (ED) officials appeared to be conducted in a manner that could potentially disrupt the TASMAC operations, which employs around 24,000 people. 'The manner in which the ED officials conducted the raids is regrettable. Proper procedures must be followed during any inquiry,' he said. The Minister also pointed out that the State government has registered 41 First Information Reports (FIRs) against liquor outlet operators over allegations of corruption. 'This shows that the department is vigilant. A mistake by an individual should not result in the entire department being blamed,' he added. Mr. Muthusamy said Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has been clear that no wrongdoing should occur in any department and that he reiterates this message in every review meeting. Reacting to the Supreme Court's emphasis on State autonomy, the Minister said, 'It means the State government and the Chief Minister are already taking appropriate steps. It is a rightful and constitutionally sound judgment, upholding the Constitution as the highest authority.' He asserted there have been no irregularities in the TASMAC bar tendering process, and added that if any irregularities are found, strict action will be taken. Commenting on law and order, the Minister said the situation in the State is well maintained. He addressed calls for a CBI inquiry into the recent murder of an elderly couple in Sivagiri, Erode district, noting, 'Some demanded a CBI inquiry, but our police acted swiftly and arrested the accused.' The Minister also inaugurated works to desilt 20 km of the Kalingarayan canal's baby canal at a total cost of ₹28.25 lakh. Collector Raja Gopal Sunkara, MP K.E. Prakash, MLA V.C. Chandhirakumar, and other officials were present.
Hans India
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
TN Excise Minister slams ED over TASMAC probe, alleges political vendetta
Chennai: Tamil Nadu Excise Minister S. Muthusamy on Saturday accused the Enforcement Directorate (ED) of harassing state government officials under the pretext of investigating an alleged scam in the state-run liquor retailer TASMAC, and violating procedures laid down by the Supreme Court. In a strongly worded statement, Muthusamy, who also holds the Housing and Prohibition portfolios, condemned what he termed as 'politically motivated actions' by the ED and assured full legal support to the officials under scrutiny. He reiterated the government's commitment to stand by its employees and take all necessary legal steps against what he described as 'vendetta-driven actions.' The Minister alleged that the ED's raids on TASMAC's headquarters and other locations were an attempt to falsely portray irregularities during the DMK regime. However, he pointed out that the ED's probe was based on cases originally filed by the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) during the previous AIADMK government. 'Despite extensive searches, the ED has found no evidence to substantiate claims of irregularities in TASMAC. Yet, the agency released a press note based on imagination, alleging a Rs 1,000 crore scam,' Muthusamy said. He added that the ED, in its attempt to justify these allegations, has continued to target and distress state officials. 'As part of this, on May 16, the ED conducted searches at the residence of TASMAC Managing Director S. Visakan and others. These raids, too, yielded no evidence, yet the harassment continues,' the minister said. He further alleged that the agency was coercing officials, though he did not provide details. Referring to earlier searches at TASMAC's headquarters in March and again on May 16 at various other premises, Muthusamy said the ED's actions are in violation of the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court in multiple cases related to the agency's functioning. 'I strongly condemn, on behalf of the Tamil Nadu government, the ED's politically motivated actions,' Muthusamy said, reaffirming the state's resolve to protect its officials through appropriate legal recourse.
