Latest news with #Sekarbabu
Time of India
7 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Minister inspects construction of college building in Chennai
CHENNAI: Minister P K Sekarbabu on Wednesday inspected key infrastructure projects being developed under the Hindu religious and charitable endowments (HR&CE) department in North Chennai. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The minister reviewed the ongoing construction of the new Arulmigu Kapaleeswarar Arts and Science College building in Poompuhar Nagar, Kolathur, a senior citizens' residence in Rajaji Nagar and a set of wedding halls being built by the Arulmigu Srinivasa Perumal Temple on the Chetpet–Poonamallee High Road. These projects are being carried out under the guidance of chief minister , who laid the foundation for the college on Dec 23, 2024. The Rs 25crore college building will house 20 classrooms, laboratories, a library, principal and staff rooms and administrative blocks on four floors. The senior citizens' residence, for which the foundation was laid on May 27, 2025, is being constructed at a cost of Rs 8.88 crore and will accommodate 75 elderly residents. The wedding halls, with an estimated cost of Rs 25 crore, are coming up on temple-owned land in Chetpet. Sekarbabu instructed officials and engineers to expedite construction work and ensure quality.
The Hindu
04-08-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Chennai to soon have 45 Mudhalvar Padaippagams soon, says Minister
As many as 45 'Mudhalvar Padaippagam' hubs under the Vada Chennai Valarchi Thittam (VCVT) will become operational in Chennai by November 2025, said P.K. Sekarbabu, Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments and Chairman of the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) on Sunday. He said 26 of the 30 such hubs planned by CMDA were established, and the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) is planning to set up 15 more. On Sunday, he launched work for setting up Mudhalvar Padaippagam hubs at Otteri, Subburayan Street, Pattalam, Bakthavatchalam Park, Pulianthope, Venkatesapuram New Colony, and Mangalapuram. He also initiated work to upgrade Chennai Corporation Schools in Perambur, Jamalia, Mangalapuram, and Ekangipuram. Mayor R. Priya, CMDA Member Secretary G. Prakash, elected representatives and officials from CMDA and GCC participated.
Hindustan Times
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Asia's tallest Murugan statue to come up at Thindal temple in Erode: TN minister
Tamil Nadu Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) P K Sekarbabu on Sunday announced that Asia's tallest Murugan statue—measuring 186 feet—will be installed at the Thindal Murugan temple in Erode. A 92-foot-tall Murugan statue is being consecrated as part of the Maha Kumbh Mela ceremony at the Theerthagiri temple, near Vellore, Tamil Nadu.(PTI) Accompanied by State Housing and Urban Development Minister S Muthusamy, Sekarbabu visited the Velayuthasamy temple in Thindal, located about 7 km from Erode, to inspect the proposed site for the installation. Addressing the press, Sekarbabu said the full-scale statue, made of cement and costing ₹30 crore, was announced in the recent Tamil Nadu budget session. Construction work has already commenced, he added. "This will be the tallest Murugan statue in Asia," the minister said. Sekarbabu also highlighted that under the DMK government's four-year tenure, Kumbabishekams (consecration ceremonies) were conducted in 3,225 temples, including 124 Murugan temples. On Monday, 46 more temples across the state will undergo Kumbabishekam, he said. The minister noted that the state government has sanctioned ₹1,120 crore as grants to the HR&CE Department and thanked donors for their contributions. "So far, we have received ₹1,400 crore in donations from devotees across Tamil Nadu," he said. Further, Muthusamy announced that two kalyana mandapams (marriage halls) will be constructed at the Thindal Velayuthasamy temple, and that consecration work at the Sivan temple in Thindal will begin soon. Among those present at the site were Rajya Sabha MP Anthiyur P Selvaraj, MP K E Prakash, MLA V C Chandhirakumar, Erode Mayor Nagarathinam, HR&CE Commissioner P N Sridhar, and other officials.
The Hindu
11-07-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Pournami Thiruvilakku puja in 25 temples now
Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments P K Sekarbabu on Thursday launched Pournami Thiruvilakku puja by 108 women at five more temples including Kapaleeswarar temple in Mylapore. With this, the facility of women devotees being able to take part in this puja will be available in 25 temples. Till now a total of 65,400 women have performed the puja after duly registering at the respective temples. The women are provided a lot with 23 items each such as kumkum, brass lamp and flowers. Mr. Sekarbabu said that Chief Minister M.K. Stalin had directed that the payment being collected from the devotees being reduced. Women devotees will have to pay only ₹100 each instead of ₹200 per puja.
The Hindu
10-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
T.N. Minister slams Palaniswami over criticism of HR&CE-run educational institutions
Tamil Nadu Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) P.K. Sekarbabu on Thursday (July 10, 2025) hit back at AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami for questioning the department's role in running educational institutions using temple funds. Speaking to reporters in Chennai, Mr. Sekarbabu said, 'It is highly condemnable that Mr. Palaniswami, unaware of the historical context, spoke like a mouthpiece of the BJP.' The Minister said over 22,450 students are currently studying in 25 schools, one polytechnic, and nine arts and science colleges administered by the HR&CE department. Since the DMK assumed office, ₹132 crore has been spent on building additional classrooms, laboratories, libraries, and auditoriums in these institutions. Despite legal hurdles, four of the 10 new colleges announced by the department have been inaugurated, benefitting around 2,500 students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, he said. Responding to Mr. Palaniswami's remarks challenging the department's authority to run educational institutions using temple funds, Mr. Sekarbabu said the core mission of the department also includes feeding the poor through annadanam, supporting education, and operating healthcare centres. Quoting Chola-era inscriptions from the Thirumukkoodal temple, the Minister said there is historical precedent for temples running schools and hospitals. He added the HR&CE Act empowers the department to establish and manage educational institutions. During Mr. Palaniswami's tenure as Chief Minister, the AIADMK government spent several crores from temple funds to develop HR&CE-run colleges, he said, and pointed out that former Chief Ministers, including K. Kamaraj, M. Bhaktavatsalam, M. Karunanidhi, M.G. Ramachandran, and J. Jayalalithaa, had endorsed temple-administered educational initiatives.
