Latest news with #Thennarasu
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Thangam Thennarasu thanks Centre for instructing RBI to reconsider gold loan guidelines
Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu on Friday (May 30, 2025) thanked the Union Finance Ministry for instructing the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to ensure its draft regulations on gold loans do not adversely impact small borrowers. In a post on X, Mr. Thennarasu said the draft gold loan guidelines were anti-poor, hurting small borrowers. Referring to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin's letter to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, urging her intervention to advise the RBI to reconsider the proposed restriction in the Reserve Bank of India (Lending Against Gold Collateral) Directions, 2025, Mr. Thennarasu said it is a major victory for people, as a result of the relentless efforts of Mr. Stalin.
The Hindu
19-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Tamil Nadu's Annual Credit Plan for 2025-26 fixed at ₹9 lakh crore
Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu on Monday released the Annual Credit Plan (ACP) for the State for 2025-26, which has been fixed at ₹9 lakh crore. He released the ACP at the 182nd State Level Bankers' Committee (SLBC) meeting conducted by Indian Overseas Bank, which is the convenor. The Annual Credit Plan of ₹9,00,181 crore has been fixed under priority sector lending, an estimated growth of 21.12% over 2024-25, according to a release. In his speech, Mr. Thennarasu lauded the banks in Tamil Nadu for their proactive approach in priority sector lending, especially in the sectors of agriculture and micro, small and medium enterprises, and in the implementation of government-sponsored schemes. He pointed out that the credit-deposit ratio of 126% in the State is one of the best in the country. He requested all the banks to work more vigorously to reach the ACP 2025-26 target. The meeting discussed financial inclusion and credit growth in the priority sector during the financial year that ended in March 2025. Mohan M., SLBC convenor and Indian Overseas Bank general manager, made a presentation. The priority sector advances increased from ₹6,63,993.27 crore as of March 2024 to ₹7,43,194.33 crore as of March 2025, a growth of 11.93%, the release added.
New Indian Express
27-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Coastal resilience: Cuddalore, Thoothukudi to get bioshields
CHENNAI: The government has announced a series of initiatives to improve climate literacy, prevent marine pollution and explore the possibility of setting up carbon neutral markets in the state. Minister for Environment and Climate Change Thangam Thennarasu made the announcements while replying to the demand for grants for his department in the Assembly on Saturday. Among the coastal initiatives, the state government plans to create bioshields in Cuddalore and Thoothukudi at a cost of Rs 10 crore to enhance coastal resilience, protect natural ecosystems and support local livelihoods. Similarly, in a Rs 4-crore pilot project under TN-SHORE, the state government will set up three material recovery facilities for plastic waste in Chennai, Ramanathapuram, and Thoothukudi at Rs 1 crore. Separately, trash booms will be introduced to prevent plastic waste from reaching the ocean through rivers at a cost of Rs 4 crore. The waste will be recovered and recycled. Since Tamil Nadu faces numerous challenges, including emission of greenhouse gases, waterbody encroachments and air pollution, the government is planning to restore Sanjeevi hills in Rajapalayam by removing invasive species and planting native trees at a cost of Rs 5 crore. Additionally, waterbodies in Rajapalayam will be restored at a cost of Rs 16 crore. Thennarasu said abandoned mines, degraded landscapes and polluted waterbodies will be reclaimed to make way for green spaces and environmental tourism at a cost of Rs 10 crore. As their first step, the government will focus on areas like the mines in Madukkarai. A sum of Rs 24 crore has been allocated to expand environmental clubs in schools, organise nature camps, and conduct state-level competitions. Infrastructure to support green practices, including solar lighting, rainwater harvesting, composting units, and plastic-free zones, will be developed under Green Schools programme.
The Hindu
27-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Environment Minister announces ₹24 crore to improve climate literacy
State Minister for Finance, Environment and Climate Change Thangam Thennarasu on Saturday (April 26, 2025) announced that the State government would spend ₹24 crore to expand eco-clubs in schools and organise nature camps and State-level competitions in order to create a movement focused on imparting climate literacy in Tamil Nadu. Making these announcements in the Assembly during Demands for Grants, Mr. Thennarasu said the bio-shield programme would be expanded at a cost of ₹8.45 crore to protect coastal habitats from severe impact of climate change and rehabilitate them. 'As part of this effort, approximately 195 hectares of mangroves and 30 hectares of casuarina were planted, while 395 hectares of degraded mangrove forests were restored. In continuation, the bio-shield programme will be expanded to the coastal districts of Cuddalore and Thoothukudi with a proposed budget of ₹8.45 crore. This initiative will integrate native tree species, mangroves, and salt-tolerant crops to strengthen coastal resilience, support local livelihoods, enhance carbon sequestration, and establish a sustainable natural buffer against climate impacts,' he said. He also added that the State government would undertake 'Restoration and Afforestation' of Sanjeevi Malai in Rajapalayam to restore degraded landscapes, enhance biodiversity and contribute to the State's broader goal of carbon neutrality. Further, it had initiated the restoration of six waterbodies — Kothankulam, Karunkulam, Kondaneri Kanmai, Alathankulam, Kammapatti Kanmai, Periyadhikulam — and 20 odais connecting the waterbodies with a comprehensive plan to rejuvenate them and ensure their long-term sustainability by addressing the issues of rapid urbanisation, pollution and threat by invasive species at a cost of ₹16 crore. Mr. Thennarasu also announced ecological restoration of abandoned mines in Madukkarai to transform them into sustainable, productive, and biodiversity-friendly landscapes.
The Hindu
22-04-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
‘Right decision will be taken at appropriate time': T.N. Finance Minister on Old Pension Scheme
Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu on Tuesday (April 22, 2025) maintained that the State government would 'take the right decision at the appropriate time' regarding the demands of government employees to resume the Old Pension Scheme. During the Question Hour in the Assembly, Mr. Thennarasu said: 'The government and the Chief Minister have carefully taken their all demands into consideration. I will discuss this demand with the Chief Minister and consult with the committee. The government will take the right decision at the appropriate time.' The Minister was responding to a query by AIADMK legislator K. Maragatham Kumaravel (Madurantakam), who sought to know whether the State government would resume the Old Pension Scheme, a demand put forth by lakhs of government employees. 'As for the [demand to resume] the Old Pension Scheme, the government has constituted a committee led by IAS officer Gagandeep Singh Bedi. The Terms of Reference have also been issued,' Mr. Thennarasu recalled. He said that many associations of government employees and teachers had submitted their representations to the government through the committee. 'Minister for Public Works and I have held talks with them,' he recalled. The Chief Minister is concerned over the welfare of government employees, and the State government has been considering their demands with care, he said. Mr. Thennarasu also recalled the announcement made by him during his Budget speech for 2025-26 for government employees.
