Latest news with #VidiyalPayanam
The Hindu
23-05-2025
- The Hindu
48th summer festival kicks off in Yercaud with week-long flower show and cultural events
The 48th edition of the Yercaud Summer Festival and Flower Show was inaugurated on Friday by Minister for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare M.R.K. Panneerselvam, Forests Minister R.S. Rajakannappan, and Tourism Minister R. Rajendran in the presence of Salem District Collector R. Brindha Devi. Speaking at the event, Mr. Panneerselvam said the State government, under the leadership of the Chief Minister, has been implementing several welfare schemes, including the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam, which provides ₹1,000 per month to over 1.15 crore women. Other initiatives such as Vidiyal Payanam and the Breakfast Scheme were also highlighted. He noted that under the backyard garden initiative, 15 lakh households across Tamil Nadu had received vegetable seeds and benefitted through the horticulture department. The week-long flower show and summer festival at Anna Park features over 50,000 roses sculpted into forest-themed displays, including elephants, deer, monkeys, and other animals. A replica of the Mettur Dam's 16-shutter spillway, made with 73,000 roses, is a key attraction. Awareness-themed installations created from over 6,000 carnations and roses highlight topics such as waste management and biodiversity. Cartoon character displays and selfie points have been created to attract children and families. More than 30,000 flower pots have been arranged, and decorative lighting enhances the park's visual appeal. Several government departments have also set up stalls exhibiting horticultural produce and value-added products. Mr. Rajakannappan spoke about welfare schemes for forest-dwelling communities and noted that more than 20,000 students and residents had selected the Oriental Darter as Salem district's bird. Mr. Rajendran said the festival helps boost local tourism and showcases Yercaud's natural charm. He expressed confidence that this year's event would attract larger crowds and offer a memorable experience for visitors from across the State.
New Indian Express
08-05-2025
- New Indian Express
Vidiyal Payanam: Stalin gets first-hand feedback
CHENNAI: The CM on Wednesday flagged off 214 new buses for six transportation corporations at Island Ground in Chennai. He also interacted with woman commuters aboard a government bus operating under the Vidiyal Payanam scheme — which provides free bus rides for women — in the city, as the DMK government completes four years after assuming office in May 2021. An official stated that while travelling from the Secretariat to the Anna Centenary Library, the CM boarded route number 32B — running from Vallalalar Nagar to Vivekananda Illam — at the Omandurar Government Estate bus stop. During the journey, he spoke with woman commuters and enquired about the scheme's impact as it enters its fifth year since implementation. The woman commuters shared that the initiative has helped them save around Rs 2,000 per month, which they now use for essential expenses like healthcare, education and others. The CM also directed the bus crew to ensure that buses halt at designated stops so women can fully benefit from the scheme. Out of a total of 214 new buses, 27 were allocated to SETC, 114 to Villupuram TNSTC, 10 to Salem, 31 to Coimbatore, 14 to Madurai and 18 to the Tirunelveli division. Of these, 70 buses are ordinary services operating under the Magalir Vidiyal Payanam scheme, according to an official statement. The DMK government took office, 3,727 new buses have been introduced and 1,500 existing buses have been refurbished, the statement said.
The Hindu
06-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Stalin government steps into fifth year, focuses on inclusive and equitable development
The M.K. Stalin-led government, which assumed office in Tamil Nadu on May 7, 2021, at the height of the intense second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, is entering its fifth year on Wednesday with a continued emphasis on promoting inclusive and equitable development ahead of next year's Assembly election. Recalling his journey as Chief Minister, Mr. Stalin on Tuesday said: 'On the one hand, we inherited a decade of misrule by the previous regime. On the other, the country was reeling under regressive ideologies such as communalism. Yet another challenge was the Union government's consistent refusal to cooperate with Tamil Nadu. In the face of all this, we have managed to run a successful administration. My sole aim was to bring Tamil Nadu back onto the path of progress. We set the right goals, moved towards them with determination, and this four-year journey of the Dravidian model stands testimony to our success.' At his first-ever meeting with editors, senior journalists, and proprietors of various media organisations in Chennai — attended by several Ministers, senior civil servants, and police officers — Mr. Stalin said his government had excelled in policy-and service-based governance without wavering from its principles or faltering in its commitment to the people, despite the crises faced over the past four years and the 'extent of slander that was spread.' 'Our land of Tamil Nadu is built on principles of equality, social justice, equity, fraternity, secularism, linguistic pride, ethnic rights, State autonomy, and federalism. We are journeying toward these ideals,' is how the Chief Minister summed it up. He highlighted his government's flagship schemes — Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai (women's monthly rights grant); Vidiyal Payanam (costless bus travel for women); Chief Minister's Breakfast Scheme, Pudhumai Penn and Tamil Pudhalvan (monthly grant for select girls and boys pursuing higher education); and the Naan Mudhalvan initiative — as evidence of effective governance. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, Ministers Thangam Thennarasu (Finance), T.R.B. Rajaa (Industries), Palanivel Thiaga Rajan (Information Technology), Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi (School Education), and M.P. Saminathan (Information and Publicity) and senior IAS officers, led by Chief Secretary N. Muruganandam, made presentations highlighting the inclusive and equitable growth achieved over the past four years in their respective departments. Consistent progress The government has recorded consistent year-on-year progress across multiple sectors, including economic growth (Gross State Domestic Product at constant prices), merchandise and electronic goods exports, employment generation, and social indicators such as the Gross Enrolment Ratio. To ensure balanced regional development, it has taken steps to establish TIDEL NEO Parks in semi-urban areas and to set up 30 SIPCOT industrial parks across various districts, while securing major industrial projects in locations such as Perambalur and Thoothukudi. Responding to suggestions and views shared by senior journalists, Finance Secretary T. Udhayachandran said the government was optimistic about achieving a 3% fiscal deficit target despite the challenges of an election year. Besides, the State Education Policy, which will most likely reflect the unique policies of Tamil Nadu, will be unveiled soon.
Hindustan Times
03-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Unleashing India's gender dividend: Dismantling demand-side barriers
India's ambition to become a $30 trillion economy by 2047 is set against a huge opportunity provided by the country's demographic dividend - its large working-age population. Often overlooked in India's demographic dividend, however, is its 'gender dividend'—the economic potential of 196 million employable women currently outside the workforce. This underleveraged asset is crucial to India's growth ambitions, but the window to act is narrowing as fertility rates drop and the demographic advantage begins to fade. While the FY23-24 female labour force participation rate (FLFPR) of 41.7% suggests improvement, as against 37.0% reported in FY22-23, much of it stems from informal and unpaid work. Systemic barriers continue to block women's entry, retention, and advancement in formal employment. Women's economic participation is not just a social imperative—it is fundamental to securing India's future prosperity. The real question isn't why women aren't working, but why so many are kept out of the workforce despite being willing, educated, and skilled. The challenge lies primarily in the demand-side barriers that remain deeply embedded within corporate structures. Barriers largely stem from inadequate workplace policies—such as flexible work, biased hiring practices—and poor infrastructure for safe housing, mobility, and workplace design. While supply-side challenges also exist, global evidence from China and Malaysia shows that dismantling structural demand-side barriers significantly boosts women's economic participation. Tamil Nadu's Krishnagiri district is a local example of how targeted interventions can transform gender outcomes. Once struggling with low female literacy (57%), child marriages, and a skewed sex ratio, industrial investments and schemes like Vidiyal Payanam, offering free transportation for women workers, and efforts to provide career guidance and address safety concerns resulted in a complete turnaround. As of 2022-2023, there has been an 89% rise in girls' enrollment in higher education (2022–23) and an increase in the average age of marriage from 14 to 21 years. Workplaces have traditionally been designed around men's needs, limiting women's ability to balance professional and personal responsibilities. The lack of flexibility remains a major barrier, especially for women with caregiving roles. Without options like remote or part-time work, many are excluded altogether. An Udaiti study, From Intent to Practice: Fostering Gender Inclusive Workplaces, found that while 73% of hiring managers report setting gender diversity goals, only 21% have implemented concrete strategies. This gap between intent and action highlights the need for workplaces that reflect women's realities. NatWest, for instance, allows employees to balance working from home and the office, requiring them to be in the office a minimum of 40% of the month, and provides other flexible work options like part-time work and phased return after parental leave. Second, unconscious bias in hiring and promotion continues to perpetuate gender disparities. While women's workforce participation has improved, leadership representation remains low. According to a 2024 LinkedIn and The Quantum Hub report, women hold just 18.3% of senior leadership roles and 15.3% of C-suite positions, slightly down from 2023. Biases—such as gendered job descriptions and subjective evaluations—hinder progress. Solutions like unconscious bias training, neutral job postings, and Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven hiring tools are critical. Companies like Hindustan Unilever and Sony Pictures Networks India are leading efforts, with Sony doubling referral rewards for women and rolling out bias training. Another critical area lies in creating pathways for women to return to work after career breaks. McKinsey research shows women face significant hurdles re-entering the workforce post-maternity or caregiving, impacting career progression. Returnship programmes are key solutions. Wipro's 'Begin Again' programme has achieved a 99% return rate for women after maternity leave. Amazon India's Rekindle programme has helped over 200 mid-level women executives rejoin in 2023 alone. Such initiatives are vital to normalising career breaks as natural, not penalising, phases in women's professional journeys. Finally, companies must take a systematic approach to women's career progression. While many focus on hiring, few have clear strategies to advance women into leadership. Despite being more employable than men, women face barriers in male-dominated industries like construction and manufacturing. Leadership development programs tailored to women's needs—mentorship, sponsorship, and stretch assignments—are essential. Companies like Infosys and Genpact have launched Women in Leadership initiatives that offer targeted training and mentorship to accelerate mid-career growth, ensuring women are not just hired, but equipped to lead. Solutions most likely to succeed will be those grounded in data-backed methodologies. Beyond disaggregated gender data, what India needs today is a framework that translates insights into action, enabling organisations to set measurable targets and drive real change - create an ecosystem that supports women's entry, retention, advancement, and return to work. Without this, tracking or sustaining progress will remain elusive. The writing on the wall is clear: women must be at the centre of India's growth story. As we move toward Viksit Bharat, unlocking the gender dividend is not optional—it is an economic imperative. This article is authored by Pooja Sharma Goyal, Founding CEO, The Udaiti Foundation.
New Indian Express
28-04-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Udhayanidhi lays foundation for Rs 82 crore projects; inaugurates hockey stadium work in Coimbatore
COIMBATORE: Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin laid the foundation stone for 132 new projects worth Rs 82.14 crore including the construction of a 6,500-sqm international standard hockey stadium with artificial turf at a cost of Rs 9.67 crore in Coimbatore on Sunday. At an event held in RS Puram, he also inaugurated 54 completed projects worth Rs 29.99 crore and distributed welfare assistance worth Rs 239.41 crore to 25,024 beneficiaries. Speaking at the event, Udhayanidhi said the DMK government has been implementing welfare schemes for all sections of society. 'Women have made over 700 crore free trips using Vidiyal Payanam scheme. Under Puthumai Penn scheme, a monthly assistance of Rs 1,000 is provided to 3.5 lakh women,' Udhayanidhi said. He added that as per the announcement made by Chief Minister MK Stalin, applications will be collected from women who have been left out of the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai scheme from July. Udhayanidhi also inaugurated a Rs 10.36-crore automatic paneer plant with a production capacity of two tonnes per day at the Coimbatore District Cooperative Milk Producers Union. He distributed welfare assistance worth Rs 13.73 crore to 2,240 members of women self-help groups. Minister for Electricity V Senthil Balaji (who later resigned) and Minster for Human Resources Management Kayalvizhi Selvaraj were present.
