T.N. govt. plans to borrow ₹37,000 crores
- According to the indicative calendar of market borrowings released by the RBI the Tamil Nadu government plans to borrow ₹37,000 crore in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023-24.
- TN has remained the top borrower in the recent years.
- State Development Loans (SDLs) form a major component of Tamil Nadu’s outstanding liability.
‘TNEB Safety’ App
- The Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) has rolled out a mobile application to enhance the safety of hundreds of maintenance staff engaged in rectification work for any power disruptions.
- Objective To prevent electrocution by enforcing the adoption of safety procedures and use of safety equipments.
Reaching Roots Programme
- Under this initiative, a group of 58 Tamil diaspora youths were selected from Canada, Fiji, Sri Lanka and Australia.
- Reaching Roots is a 2 week cultural tour programme by Government of Tamil Nadu for Tamil Diaspora Youth to help reconnect the present with the past and establish the umbilical link between generations.
Tamil Nadu Coir Policy 2024
- The Tamil Nadu Coir Policy 2024 which was unveiled by the Chief Minister M.K. Stalin recently.
- It aims to attract investments worth `3,000 crore in the sector by 2030 and generate 60,000 jobs.
Key highlights
- Setting up of Centres of Excellence exclusively for new, innovative coir products.
- To establishing a coir park and a coir test laboratory.
- To promote entrepreneurs from marginalised sections
- To promote and facilitate green initiatives
- To provide a thrust for the scaling up and diversification of coir MSMEs.
‘Thozhi’ Hostels
- Chief Minister M.K.Stalin virtually inaugurated ‘Thozhi’, a State government run hostel for working women at Tambaram Sanatorium.
- Tamil Nadu Working Women’s Hostels Corporation Limited (TNWWHCL) was created under Social Welfare & Women Empowerment Department to create high quality affordable self- sustaining chain of hostels across Tamil Nadu
STEPS survey
- Tamil Nadu STEPS Survey - 2 to estimate prevalence of Non Communicable Diseases (NCD) risk factors has started across the state.
- STEP wise approach to NCD risk factor surveillance (STEPS) is a simple, standardised method for collecting, analysing, and disseminating data on key NCD risk factors.
- The survey is funded by the World Bank.
Blockchain to protect documents
- The Registration Department has tied up with Tamil Nadu e-Governance Agency (TNEGA)to shifting various registered documents to the blockchain system to prevent tampering.
- The Department has also started issuing certified copies stamped with the seal of Nambikkai Inaiyam (blockchain logo) - to document owners engaged in registering documents.
Excavations in four new places
- Tamil Nadu has sought permission from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for carrying out excavations in four new places in 2024.
- Marungur in Cuddalore
- Kongalnagaram in Tiruppur
- Thirumalapuram in Tenkasi
- Chennanur in Krishnagiri
Pilot study to determine population of Nilgiri Tahr
- The Tamil Nadu government has concluded a pilot study to determine the method to estimate the population of Nilgiri Tahr.
- The study was launched as the part of Project Nilgiri Tahr.
- According to 2015 report of WWF India 3,122 Nilgiri Tahrs spread over 5,790 sq km in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
- Project Nilgiri Tahr was launched in October 12, 2023.
PICME software upgraded
- The Pregnancy and Infant Cohort Monitoring and Evaluation (PICME) software has been upgraded recently as PICME 3.0.
- The new PICME 3.0 will promote self - registration for RCH (Reproductive and Child Health) ID, and share the data through PICME
- with the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme for monitoring of babies discharged from the Special New born Care Units (SNCU).
- The software captures the details of nearly 11 lakh pregnant women in the State every year.
Global Investors Meet 2024
- Chief Minister M.K. Stalin inaugurated the Global Investors Meet (GIM) 2024 in Chennai.
- Theme of the GIM 2024 is ‘Towards a Resilient Economy, Sustainable Development, and Inclusive Growth’.
Key Highlights
- Tamil Nadu Vision $1-Trillion report was released
- A comprehensive ‘growth framework’ has been designed to attract $3.8 trillion to $4.3 trillion in investments from the public as well as private sector to accelerate growth.
- Singapore announced plans to invest ` 31,000 crore in Tamil Nadu.
- Semiconductor and Advanced Electronics Policy 2024 was released.
- Green Fuels Alliance India (GFAI) initiative was launched to boost collaboration between the India and Denmark to achieve carbon neutrality.
- ‘Tamil Nadu Repowering and Life Extension Policy for Wind Power Projects’ policy was released.
- A total of ` 6,64,180 crore of investments were attracted.
- A total of 26,90,657 jobs were expected to be generated.
TN Semiconductor and Advanced Electronics Policy 2024
- Semiconductor and Advanced Electronics Policy 2024 was released at the Global Investors Meet 2024 recently.
Key Highlights
- The policy seeks to attract anchor investments in semiconductor and advanced electronics manufacturing.
- Aims to create a skilled talent pool of over two lakh persons by 2030.
- Implementation will be facilitated by Guidance Tamil Nadu.
- Disbursement of incentives will be done by State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu Ltd. (SIPCOT)
Nalam Nandi app launched
- Minister for School Education Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi unveiled the Nalam Naadi app.
- The app was launched by the Tamil Nadu School Education department.
- The app will help the special educators to track students with learning disabilities.
World Tamils Economic Conference
- 10th World Tamils Economic Conference is being held in Chennai.
- Global Economic Summit is also held on the side lines of the World Tamils Economic Conference.
- The First World Tamils Economic Conference was held in Chennai in 2009.
World Tamil Diaspora Day – 2024
- World Tamils Diaspora Day 2024 is inaugurated in Chennai Trade Centre by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin.
- Enadhu Grammam (எனது கிராமம்) scheme which aims to improve the infrastructure of the hometowns of the NRT’s (Non Resident Tamils) will be launched during the function.
Tamil Nadu Coastal Restoration Mission
- The TN government has issued orders to implement the Tamil Nadu Coastal Restoration Mission.
- The mission will be implemented over the next five years at a cost of `1,675 crore in 14 coastal districts with the support of World Bank.
- The mission has four focus areas:
- Enhancing coastal biodiversity
- Coastal protection
- Improving livelihood through the creation of blue flag beaches and sustainable tourism
- Pollution abatement.
- Tamil Nadu Blue Carbon Agency will be established as a special purpose vehicle.
Organ donations increase in T.N.
- According to the Health & Family Welfare Department of Tamil Nadu, there is a 14% increase in the number of organ donations in Tamil Nadu in 2023 when compared with 2022.
- The number of deceased donors rose from 156 in 2022 to 178 in 2023 owing to increased awareness on organ donations.
- Tamil Nadu received the Best State Award for the highest number of donations in 2022.
TN plans to procure Paddy
- The Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC) is planning to procure more than 20 lakh tonnes of the crop as the paddy harvest season is set to begin shortly.
- In 2022-23, about 44.22 lakh tonnes of paddy was procured from around 5.22 lakh farmers in the State.
CM honours scholars and writers
- Chief Minister M.K. Stalin presented awards instituted by three government departments to nine individuals for their contributions towards Tamil language and social justice.
- Ayyan Tiruvalluvar Award which was instituted by Tamil Development Department were presented to Thavathiru Balamuruganadimai Swami for 2024.
- Perarignar Anna Award - ‘Pathamadai’ Parama Sivam (2023)
- Perunthalaivar Kamarajar Award - U.Balaraman (2023)
- Mahakavi Bharathiar Award - Palani Bharathi (2023)
- Paavendar Bharathidasan Award - M. Mutharasu (2023)
- Tamil Thendral Thiru Vi Ka Award - S. Jayaseela Stephen (2023)
- Muthamizh Kavalar K.A.P. Viswanatham Award - R. Karunanidhi (2023)
- The Thanthai Periyar Award which instituted by the Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare Department was presented to Suba Veerapandian.
- The Ambedkar Award instituted by Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department for 2023 was presented to P. Shanmugam.
Olive Ridley nesting season
- Olive Ridley sea turtles have begun nesting along the coasts of Chennai and Chengalpattu.
- The Bay of Bengal coast is one of the major nesting sites for Olive Ridleys.
- The famed mass nesting or arribadas occurs on the Odisha coast, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh coasts.
- Each Olive Ridley found and a total of 38,721 turtle lays about 100 eggs which take around 45 to 60 days to hatch.