Latest news with #UdhayanidhiStalin
Time of India
36 minutes ago
- Time of India
Several campaigns held to make Madurai drug-free: Collector
Madurai: In order to make Madurai free from drugs, various awareness programmes have been held this year, in which the message against drug abuse was spread to more than 22,000 people, district collector K J Praveenkumar said. He was speaking at the launch of the statewide 'Drug Free Tamil Nadu' campaign inaugurated by deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin via video conference at American College on Monday. "Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin's motive is to create a drug-free state. Similarly, we need to make Madurai drug-free, and various awareness programmes have been held in collaboration with students and volunteers. Since January this year, the district conducted 786 awareness programmes, 228 rallies, 37 meetings, 13 plays, and 10 debates on drug prevention," the collector said. Praveenkumar urged youngsters not to get into drugs, saying that even a small amount could lead to addiction. "Each one must ensure that their families are free of drug addiction at the household level. Subsequently, we must ensure a drug-free street environment in Madurai," he said. According to a statement by Madurai police, anti-drug clubs have been organised in 187 schools and 30 colleges. In the last three years, 753 people were accused in ganja cases, and 542 were convicted. Nearly 1,105 were accused in gutka cases, and 755 were convicted, the statement added. The event was presided over by mayor Indrani Ponvasanth, commissioner of police (Madurai city) J Loganathan, and superintendent of police (Madurai rural) B K Arvind, in the presence of college students and volunteers. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
36 minutes ago
- Business
- Time of India
City gets 55 AC e-buses; deputy CM opens Perumbakkam depot
Chennai: A fleet of 55 air-conditioned electric buses were unveiled in the city on Monday. Deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin flagged off 135 new low-floor electric buses, of which 55 are air-conditioned and 80 are deluxe, together worth 233 crore. He also inaugurated the upgraded Perumbakkam electric bus depot built at 49.56 crore. Coming a month after chief minister M K Stalin launched 120 new e-buses, this event marked the second phase of MTC's e-bus rollout under the Chennai City Partnership – Sustainable Urban Services Project (CCP-SUSP), supported by the World Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to reduce air pollution. The new AC buses have a height-lowering feature (40cm to 25cm) to allow easier boarding for senior citizens, women, children, and people with disabilities, along with wider aisles (70cm instead of 65cm), same-level seating, and CCTV cameras for passenger safety. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai These 12-metre buses will be operated under a gross cost contract model, with the project awarded to OHM Global Mobility, a subsidiary of Ashok Leyland and SWITCH Mobility Automotive. MTC MD T Prabhushankar said unlike the previous models where MTC owned the buses, they leased the buses this time for a 12-year period, and maintenance and operation are entirely the contractor's responsibility. "We pay 80.86 per km for an assured minimum trip distance of 200km a day. This totals 6.6 crore payment to the contractor over a period of 12 years per bus. The contractor will maintain the buses, including the depot, and will be managed by key-performance indicators. We can cut up to 15% if they err on performance," he said. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
The Hindu
an hour ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Udhayanidhi presents felicitates police personnel, students as part of ‘Drug Free Tamil Nadu' campaign
Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Tuesday presented the Chief Minister's Police Medals to personnel for their role in curbing the distribution and use of illegal drugs in the State. He also presented cheques to educational institutions and students for actively taking part in an awareness campaign against the illegal drugs. During an event organised under the 'Drug Free Tamil Nadu' campaign on the Government Arts College campus at Nandanam in Chennai, Mr. Udhayanidhi felicitated the students of schools and colleges for their active participation in the awareness campaign. Minister of Higher Education Govi. Chezhiaan, Secretary of Youth Welfare and Sports Development Department Atulya Misra, Home Secretary Dheeraj Kumar, Director-General of Police (DGP) Shankar Jiwal, Chennai Police Commissioner A. Arun, and A. Amalraj, Additional DGP, Enforcement Bureau-CID, were among those present.
The Hindu
6 hours ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Mass anti-drug pledge administered to schoolchildren in Salem and Namakkal districts
Tourism Minister R. Rajendran participated in a mass anti-drug pledge taken by school students in Salem district on Monday (August 11, 2025). A similar event was held in Namakkal district as well. To create awareness among students and youths on the ill effects of drugs and banned tobacco products, the State Government has been conducting anti-drug awareness programmes for the past three years, where a mass anti-drug pledge is administered. Likewise, this year on Monday, under the Drug-Free Tamil Nadu initiative, school and college students in Chennai took an anti-drug pledge administered by Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin. Following this, the programme was held at Fort Boys Higher Secondary School in Salem. In the event, Minister Rajendran, District Collector R. Brindha Devi, and Salem Corporation Mayor A. Ramachandran participated. A total of 1,800 students from the Fort Boys Higher Secondary School, Fort Girls Higher Secondary School, Gugai Higher Secondary School, and Shevapet Vasavi Higher Secondary School took part in the event. The Minister handed over awards and certificates to government and private institutions that conducted various awareness programmes and formed anti-drug clubs. Cultural programmes were also held as part of the function. Education and Health Department officials and local body representatives participated. In Namakkal district, the mass anti-drug pledge was administered at a function held at the Government Medical College auditorium. The students took the pledge administered by District Collector Durgamoorthi. Awareness programme and signature campaign were also held.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
CM Stalin releases Tamil Nadu's State policy for school education; reiterates two-language formula
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Friday (August 8, 2025) released the Tamil Nadu State Education Policy - School Education, and reiterated the State's two-language policy of teaching only Tamil and English. The policy has been designed keeping in mind Tamil Nadu's unique character and is aimed at preparing students for the future with a vision, he said. Listing out some of the highlights of the policy, Mr. Stalin said instead of (encouraging) memorising, the policy was to help students to think and act. He said the policy aimed at making students creative, sought to link education with physical training, and emphasised the significance of the Tamil language. Read the full document here. The DMK government believed that all students must complete their school education and pursue higher education. This year, about 72% of students who completed Plus Two exams were pursuing higher education, he said. He hoped the number would be higher in the coming years, and that the target was 100%. In his speech, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin reiterated the Tamil Nadu government's position to bring back education to the State List. Minister for School Education Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi said that the National Education Policy was a 'vidhi' (fate), but the State Education Policy was a 'madhi'. The policy was formulated based on the recommendations made by the Justice D. Murugesan Committee that was tasked with drafting a distinct State Education Policy. In April 2022, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced the constitution of a committee to formulate a State Education Policy for Tamil Nadu. Justice Murugesan, former Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, led the committee that comprised a broad spectrum of experts in academics, sports, and music, among others. Earlier, then Finance Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, in his revised budget speech 2021-22, had said the government would appoint a high-level committee of educationists and experts to formulate a distinct State education policy in keeping with the historical legacy, the present situation, and the State's future aspirations. In July 2024, the Justice Murugesan committee submitted its report to the Tamil Nadu government. The committed had, among others, recommended that formal schooling must begin only at Class 1 in all institutions on 'completion of 5 years' as on 31 July of an academic year. It may be noted that the National Education Policy (NEP) favours children completing six years to enter formal school education. During the event on the Anna Centenary Library campus in Chennai, the Chief Minister also felicitated students who studied in State-run schools and have secured admissions into various prestigious higher education institutions. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, Ministers Ma. Subramanian, P.K. Sekarbabu, Govi. Chezhiaan, and Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, Chennai Mayor R. Priya, Chief Secretary N. Muruganandam, and senior officials were also present.
