The first phase was inaugurated in 2023 and sanction was given for the construction of 440 houses in Villupuram district in the first phase….reports Asian Lite News
Tamil Nadu government will handover 440 houses to Sri Lankan refugees who are in refugee camps in Keezhputhuattu village in the Villupuram district of the state.
Under the free housing scheme for Sri Lankan Tamils, 7469 houses were proposed to be built for the refugees and a budget of Rs 342 crore was earmarked for the same.
The first phase was inaugurated in 2023 and sanction was given for the construction of 440 houses in Villupuram district in the first phase. Sources told IANS that the second phase is expected to be inaugurated in 2025.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K.Stalin in the state legislative assembly on August 27, 2021, announced the construction of 7469 houses across 104 Sri Lankan Tamil rehabilitation camps spread across 29 districts of the state.
Villupuram District Rural Development Authorities (DRDA) told IANS that the work for the 440 houses is almost over and that the installation of sewage canals is currently underway. The officials said that these homes would be handed over by October 15.
A ration shop is also being built at the site where the new houses are coming up and this is part of the development plan for the parliamentary constituency under the funds of the Member of Parliament of the Villupuram MP D. Ravikumar.
The Tamil Nadu government’s initiative to provide permanent housing for Eelam Tamils marks a significant step towards their rehabilitation and integration into society.
The timely completion of the project is expected to provide a safe and secure environment for these families, ensuring improved living standards.
The first batch of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees came to Tamil Nadu following the ethnic cleansing pogrom in Sri Lanka in 1983.
Presently 58,822 persons are staying in 108 camps in the 29 districts of the state of Tamil Nadu.
As per official data, 34,087 refugees are staying outside the camps.
CM Stalin met the officials of ‘Optum’, a healthcare-providing company which already has an established unit in Tamil Nadu employing 5,000 people….reports Asian Lite News
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who is on a 17-day visit to the US to seek investments for the state, has signed a Rs 2,000 crore Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Trilliant.
This is for establishing Trilliant’s manufacturing unit in Tamil Nadu as well as for constituting their Development and Global Support centre in the state, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) in a statement on Thursday said.
The statement also said that the Chief Minister had a productive discussion with sports goods makers, Nike for establishing its product creation and design centre in Tamil Nadu.
CM Stalin met the officials of ‘Optum’, a healthcare-providing company which already has an established unit in Tamil Nadu employing 5,000 people. The CMO in the statement said that the meeting with ‘Optum’ was for extending the company’s operations in Tiruchi and Madurai districts of Tamil Nadu.
It may noted that CM Stalin during his business visit met several corporates in San Francisco and now in Chicago.
The CM visited the headquarters of Google, Apple and Microsoft and has entered into MoUs with these tech giants for investments in Tamil Nadu.
The Chief Minister is travelling to the US eight months after the Tamil Nadu government signed MoUs worth over Rs 6 lakh crore during the third edition of the Global Investors Meet.
Tamil Nadu’s focus is mainly on embracing cutting-edge technologies and fostering an ecosystem conducive to R&D and high-tech manufacturing and in this regard the Chief Minister is meeting major technology companies in the US.
Since assuming office in May 2021, CM Stalin has visited the UAE, Singapore, Japan and Spain to get investment proposals for Tamil Nadu.
It may be noted that Tamil Nadu has already emerged as the locus of iPhone manufacturing in India with three key suppliers — Foxconn, Pegatron, and Tata Electronics — expanding their operations. Additionally, Bharat FIH, an arm of Foxconn, will soon begin to assemble Pixel phones and drones for Google.
Young professionals and social activists drawn from all sections of the society are being targeted by the party leadership to be inducted into the Congress and given key positions….reports Asian Lite News
Tamil Nadu Congress President, K Selvaperunthagai, said at a recent public meeting that the party needs to recapture power to get political respect from its alliance partner DMK.
Selvaperunthagai’s statement is considered an attempt by the party leadership to motivate its cadres, who have complained of ill-treatment by the DMK’s local leaders.
The last time the Congress was in power in Tamil Nadu was in 1967 when the iconic DMK leader, CN Annadurai defeated the party led by M Bhaktavatsalam and gained power.
Bhaktavatsalam was the last Congress Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and since then the party was being relegated to the background by Dravidian majors, DMK and AIADMK.
Sources in the Congress told IANS that the grand old party will effect a change after the results of the Lok Sabha elections on June 4 and that the party President wants to infuse young blood into the leadership.
Young professionals and social activists drawn from all sections of the society are being targeted by the party leadership to be inducted into the Congress and given key positions.
The Congress won 8 seats out of the 9 it contested in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in an alliance with the DMK.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections also the Congress contested from 9 seats after strong positioning by the party leadership against the DMK move to cut its seats.
The Congress last contested on its own in 1989 and had garnered only 4.5 per cent votes while in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections it received 12.61 per cent votes in alliance with the DMK.
Interestingly, the BJP has broken away from the alliance with the Dravidian major AIADMK and formed an alliance with the PMK and smaller parties in this General Election.
A senior leader of the Congress told IANS, “The BJP has already set an example and the Congress must also try and assert itself. Otherwise, the party will always have to play second fiddle to either of the Dravidian majors in Tamil Nadu politics. The party has to revamp itself and fresh faces must lead it so that the party gains trust from the grassroots and gains maximum seats.”
Political parties like Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK), Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and many others have erupted in Tamil Nadu representing different sections of society and the Congress has to find a space of its own to garner traction in state politics.
Coimbatore-based psephologist and political analyst, George Thomas told IANS, “The Congress always has a space in Tamil Nadu and it has to assert its secular credentials and national outlook for emerging on its own. However, there is risk involved and the road ahead is not rosy. If the party decides to snap ties with the DMK, then it has to work hard from the grassroots and emerge on its own, which is a tough call.”
DMK alliance aims to replicate 2019 success, while BJP vigorously campaigns with new allies. AIADMK faces pivotal test post-NDA split…reports Asian Lite News
Tamil Nadu goes to polls for all its 39 parliamentary constituencies in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls with a triangular contest on the cards in the southern state.
While DMK-led alliance is hopeful of repeating its 2019 performance, the BJP has put all its might in the polls and has held hectic campaign after stitching an alliance. The polls are also crucial for AIADMK which came out of BJP-led NDA in September last year.
The state is witnessing interesting battles on several seats with some key leaders in the contest.
In Coimbatore, state BJP chief K Annamalai is pitted against DMK’s Ganapathy P Rajkumar, a former mayor, and AIADMK’s Singai Ramachandran. Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan, who was the BJP candidate from Coimbatore in the past two Lok Sabha elections of 2019 and 2014, had suffered back-to-back defeats. The seat is held by CPI’s PR Natarajan.
K Annamalai released a manifesto for the Coimbatore constituency for the Lok Sabha elections. The promises include the establishment of the Indian Institute of Management, the offices of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in Coimbatore city.
Ganapathy P Rajkumar has also exuded confidence of his victory and alleged that the BJP has done nothing for Coimbatore.
DMK’s Kanimozhi is contesting against AIADMK’s R Sivasami Velumani in the Thoothukudi Lok Sabha seat. Kanimozhi comfortably won the seat in 2019 Lok Sabha polls and defeated former Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan by over 3.47 lakh votes.
Tamilisai Soundararajan is contesting this Lok Sabha poll from Chennai South Lok Sabha seat. DMK leader Thamizhachi Thangapandian is the sitting MP from the seat. AIADMK has fielded Jayavardhan, who came a distant second in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Vidhya Rani, the daughter of slain sandalwood smuggler Veerappan, is in the fray from Krishnagiri constituency and has been fielded by Naam Tamilar Katchi. She is facing BJP’s C Narasimhan and Congress leader K Gopinath, a three-time MLA.
Congress’ Dr A Chellakumar won the previous two Lok Sabha elections from Krishnagiri constituency.
Former Union Minister Dayanidhi Maran is recontesting from Chennai Central seat. He is facing BJP’s Vinoj P Selvam and DMDK’s B Parthasarathy.
DMK’s A Raja, a former union minister, is in the fray from Nilgris, He is up against Union Minister and BJP leader L Murugan. AIADMK has fielded Lokesh Tamilselvan.
Nilgiris has six assembly segments – Udhagamandalam, Cuddalore, Coonoor, Mettupalayam, Avanashi, and Bhavanisagar and has 14,18,914 voters.
Sivaganga constituency will witness three-cornered contest with sitting Congress MP Karti Chidambaram taking on BJP’s Devanathan Yadav, a businessman, and A Xavierd of AIADMK.
Karti, son of former Union Minister P Chidambaram, is seeking victory from the seat for the third time.
In 2019 general elections, the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, comprising the Congress, VCK, MDMK, CPI, CPI(M), IUML, MMK, KMDK, TVK, and AIFB, registered a landslide victory, winning 38 of the 39 seats in the state.
In Ramanathapuram, BJP is supporting former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, who is contesting as an independent candidate against AIADMK’s Jayaperumal and K Navaskani from the Indian Union Muslim League, an ally of the DMK. Naam Tamilar Katchi has fielded Chandraprabha.
The contest in Virudhunagar constituency is between incumbent Congress MP B Manickam Tagore and two high-profile candidates- actor and producer Radikaa Sarathkumar of the BJP; and V Vijayaprabhakaran of the DMDK, who is the son of late actor Vijayakant.
The constituency known as the birthplace of K Kamraj, one of the tallest leaders in Tamil Nadu politics, lies adjacent to Madurai and is home to many cracker manufacturing units, matchbox and handloom units as well as offset printing presses. Tagore has won twice from the constituency. Radikaa and Vijayaprabhakaran have conducted an intense campaign to wrest the seat from him.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has held roadshows and rallies in Tamil Nadu to boost prospects of party candidates.
INDIA bloc, which includes DMK and Congress, is hoping for a repeat of 2019 performance. (ANI)
Out of the 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu, the Congress will contest nine seats…reports Asian Lite News
The Congress leaders in Tamil Nadu are lobbying hard for their candidature for the nine Lok Sabha seats that have been allocated to it in the INDIA bloc.
The DMK and Congress finalised their seat-sharing arrangement on Monday. Out of the 39 Lok Sabha seats in the state, the Congress will contest nine seats. However, the Arani, Theni and Tiruchi seats were taken by the DMK and instead the party allocated Myladuthurai, Tirunelveli and Cuddalore seats to the Congress.
The Congress party will be replacing the Kanyakumari sitting MP, Vijay Vasanth with a Christian face and former Tamil Nadu Minority commission chairman, Peter Alphonse is the likely replacement. Vasanth’s name is being seriously considered for the Tirunelveli seat.
Congress sources told IANS that sitting MP’s JyothiMani from Karur, Manickam Tagore from Virudhunagar and Karthi Chidambaram from Sivaganga will contest from their own seats.
The sitting Congress MP from Krishnagiri Dr.Chellakumar is facing stiff opposition from the local DMK leaders. According to senior Congress leaders in Tamil Nadu, Chellakumar is being opposed by local Congress leadership also. However, party general secretary (organisation ) K.C. Venugopal will support his candidature, the sources added.
Veteran Congress leader and former state president of the party, Thirunavakkarsu is likely to contest from Mayiladuthurai seat and strong lobbying is going on for him with the state president K. Selvaperunthagai supporting his candidature.
The immediate past president of the state Congress, K.S. Alagiri is lobbying for his candidature from Cuddalore seat where he was an MLA earlier.
With hectic lobbying taking place for the nine seats in Tamil Nadu, it is a tough situation for the Congress state and central leadership to finalise the candidates.
Tamil Nadu will be going to polls on April 19 in the first phase and the nominations can be submitted from March 20. The last date of submission of nominations is March 27 and the last date for withdrawal is on March 30. The parties will get only 17 days for campaigning.
Stalin to begin INDIA bloc campaign from Tiruchi
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who is also the president of the DMK, will commence the election campaign of the INDIA bloc from Friday.
DMK leader and state Minister K.N. Nehru is in charge of Friday’s inaugural programme which will begin from Siruganur in Tiruchi.
Minister Nehru while speaking to IANS said that the programme will be addressed by Chief Minister Stalin, MDMK leader Vaiko and a galaxy of senior leaders of the INDIA bloc. Vaiko’s son and senior MDMK leader Durai Vaiko is the INDIA bloc candidate from Tiruchi.
The minister, who was often referred to as a man of big programmes by late DMK leader and former Chief Minister K. Karunanidhi and now Stalin is overseeing the entire preparations for the programme.
Tiruchi is considered as a lucky point to start an election campaign and the DMK, which is a political formulation based on Periyar‘s ideology of atheism, ironically commences its election voyage from Tiruchi. Karunanidhi himself referred to Tiruchi as ‘Thiruppumunai Tiruchi’ (turning point Tiruchi) and Stalin also refers to Tiruchi with nostalgia.
Minister Nehru said that the Chief Minister will visit all the 39 Lok Sabha constituencies spread across the state and would introduce the INDIA bloc candidates.
The DMK is contesting 21 seats, Congress nine, CPI(M) two, CPI two, VCK two, MDMK one, IUML one and KMDK one.
In the 2019 general elections, the Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) led by the DMK won in 38 of the 39 seats it contested and CM Stalin is now aiming at a clean sweep in the 2024 polls. The Chief Minister had in his address to the party cadres and local leaders asserted to work hard at the grassroots to ensure a total victory to all the INDIA bloc candidates.
As per party sources, the DMK allotted two seats each to CPI and CPI(M) during the meeting…reports Asian Lite News
The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu sealed seat-sharing deals with the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Thursday.
A meeting was held in Chennai under the leadership of DMK leader and Chief Minister MK Stalin with the alliance partners.
As per party sources, the DMK allotted two seats each to CPI and CPI(M) during the meeting.
DMK made the first seat-sharing deal on February 25 with the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and Kongunadu Makkal Desiya Katchi.
DMK’s long-time ally, IUML, has been allotted the Ramanathapuram Parliament Constituency, while the Namakkal Parliament Constituency has been given to Kongunadu Makkal Desiya Katchi.
On February 23, Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar along with the top officials of the Election Commission of India, reviewed poll preparedness in Tamil Nadu for forthcoming general elections to Lok Sabha.
The Commission held meetings with representatives of political parties in the state.
The review meetings were also held with District Collectors and Superintendents of Police, the officials said.
‘Gear up for democratic war’
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin on Thursday urged his party cadre to work for the victory of the Opposition INDIA bloc in the coming Lok Sabha election so that “fascism can be defeated and a full stop can be put to communal politics.”
“The INDIA bloc should win so that fascism can be defeated and a full stop can be put to communal politics,” Stalin said in his letter to his party cadre ahead of his 71st birthday (March 1, 2024).
Stalin called upon his party cadre to gear up for the “democratic war,” in which the BJP government ruling the Union should be pulled down from power.
CM Stalin said that though Prime Minister Narendra Modi had been repeatedly visiting Tamil Nadu, the fear of defeat could be seen on his face.
On Wednesday, in a public gathering in Tamil Nadu, PM Modi said that it was time to drive the DMK away from Tamil Nadu.
“The Prime Minister’s speech claiming to crush and destroy the DMK has brought disrepute to the post he holds. It is in the history of Tamil Nadu as to what happened to those who started to crush and destroy the DMK,” Stalin said in his letter.
The DMK chief said he would, however, not say that the BJP would not live on. “Our leader, Karunanidhi, did not groom us like that. The BJP has the right to remain in the democratic set-up as a political party. Let me wish the BJP to become a good opposition, as they failed as a ruling party,” he said.
Taking exception to PM Modi’s contention that the DMK government is obstructing Central government schemes in Tamil Nadu and is not allowing the development of the state, he asked, “Are we blocking them from opening the AIIMS hospital at Madurai district? Are we blocking the Chennai Metro rail projects?”
Stalin said his party opposed the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), contending that it was an altar crushing the dreams of medical education of the poor. “We will, of course, oppose it.” He asserted that his party would oppose the National Education Policy [NEP] 2020, which, he said, was an “obstruction.”.
Referring to his party’s opposition to the three farm laws (since withdrawn), which “went against farmers”, as well as its opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) “that went against minorities and Sri Lankan Tamils,” Stalin said the DMK was being open about the issues they opposed.
“Modi, who did not give the funds due to a state government, prevented the state from taking loans, and even failed to provide flood relief by running an unkind government, cannot find fault with the DMK,” he said.
Calling upon his party cadre to take the list of the BJP’s “conspiracies” to the people of Tamil Nadu, Stalin said: “People are aware. We only have to remind them. We have to win all 40 seats in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry [in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections],” he said.
The disturbances to political parties of the I.N.D.I.A. bloc in other states by the BJP government only meant that their (the Opposition’s) victory was almost certain in the national scenario, he said. He called upon his party cadre to work to ensure a change in the Union government. That would be his “birthday gift,” he said. (ANI)
Vijay announced his political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, on Friday….reports Asian Lite News
Tamil superstar Vijay, who was recently seen in ‘Leo’, and is awaiting the release of his upcoming film ‘The Goat’, has decided to quit cinema for his political career.
He announced his political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, on Friday. The actor said that he will quit cinema after completing two films (‘GOAT’ and an untitled film) to become a full-fledged politician in Tamil Nadu.
His party members will contest in the 2026 elections. The actor recently met Class 10 and 12 students and also offered aid to people affected by the recent floods in Chennai.
In a long official statement, the actor said that there is a need for political power to do social work in a full-fledged manner.
The actor’s official account on X posted: “You all are well aware of the political situation of Tamil Nadu. On one side, we have a dysfunctional administration and corrupt political culture, and on the other, we have divisive politics that aims to divide people along the lines of caste, creed, and religion. Both impede our progress. It is an incontestable truth that people, more so in Tamil Nadu, are longing for a change in a political scenario and want a selfless, honest, secular and talented party to bring about a change.”
Vijay announced that he will be contesting in the 2026 state legislative assembly elections and will pave the way for the ‘desired political transformation sought by the people of Tamil Nadu’.
The statement further mentioned: “Upon the approval of the election ordinance, our party’s policies, manifestos, strategies, and programs will be unveiled, and our political journey for the people of Tamil Nadu will commence. Our party will proceed with the necessary diligence, ensuring that all activities align with the party’s mission and goals, prioritising the interests of the people of Tamil Nadu. Therefore, my prolonged commitment to politics is not merely a profession but a sacred duty to the people. Politics, in my perspective, is not a pastime; it is my profound endeavour.”
“So, I will complete the project I have accepted now, making sure that it doesn’t affect my political service. And I will embark on this journey to serve the people of Tamil Nadu fully, without any distractions. That, I believe, is my debt of gratitude to the people of Tamil Nadu”, he added in the statement,” he concluded.
Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin further highlighted how his government is reaching out to Tamils stranded abroad.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin addressed World Tamils Diaspora Day 2024 held at Chennai Trade Centre on Friday.
Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin expressed pleasure over welcoming the Tamil diaspora.
“It was published in a newspaper that I am unwell, and my health condition was bad, but nothing is wrong with me when the people of Tamil Nadu are happy. I am someone who puts aside all such news and works beyond my strength”, said MK Stalin.
Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin assures that he would facilitate all those Tamils who want to come back.
“Steps are being taken to bring back Tamils who want to return home due to medical conditions and various other reasons”, said MK Stalin.
Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin further highlighted how his government is reaching out to Tamils stranded abroad.
“A separate department has been set up in the DGP office to receive complaints from Tamils stranded in foreign countries. They have been assured of protection from the extraordinary situations that have occurred in various countries including Ukraine, Cambodia, and Sudan”, said MK Stalin.
Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin emphasised investment coming from Tamils abroad and said that memorandums of understanding have been made for overseas Tamils to invest in the homeland.
நம் தமிழ் உறவுகள் என் வெளிநாட்டுப் பயணங்களின்போது எத்தகைய வரவேற்பை அளிப்பார்களோ, அதே உற்சாகத்தோடு அவர்களைத் தாய்த் தமிழ்நாட்டில் வரவேற்றேன்!
அயலகத் தமிழர் நலனுக்காக நமது #DravidianModel அரசு எடுத்துவரும் நடவடிக்கைகளைப் பற்றி விவரித்தேன்.
In his attempt to unify the Tamil Diaspora, MK Stalin said, “Even if we are separated by water, land and continents, we are all brothers. It doesn’t matter where we live.”
To make this event more special, Tamils who excelled in 8 categories namely Tamil literature, Education, Social Development, Women, Business, Science and Technology, Sports and Medicine were honoured by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister at the occasion of World Tamil Diaspora Day.
Tamils from about 58 countries participated in the two-day World Tamil Diaspora Day celebrations, inaugurated by Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development Udhayanidhi Stalin on Thursday. (ANI)
Tamil Nadu, which is a local leader in electronics and automobiles, was buoyed by the investments received in the third edition of the meet….reports Asian Lite News
Tamil Nadu inked deals worth Rs 6.64 lakh crore at the two-day Global Investors Meet that concluded in Chennai on Monday. As many as 631 memorandums of understanding were signed during the investment summit, the state government said in a statement.
The investments were from sectors such as green energy, electric vehicles, global capability centres and non-leather footwear. The proposed investments are expected to generate more than 26 lakh direct and indirect jobs across the state. “We have attracted an unprecedented Rs 664,180 crore of investments,” chief minister M K Stalin said at the event.
Tamil Nadu, which is a local leader in electronics and automobiles, was buoyed by the investments received in the third edition of the meet. The investment pledges will lay a strong foundation for the state’s growth for the next 20 years, Stalin said. They were also distributed across the state to ensure balanced development across the region, he added.
Stalin also announced the constitution of a committee to follow-up on the MoUs signed at the event to ensure that they are converted into actual investments. “You will always have access to my office,” Stalin promised investors.
This was the first investors meet under the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government. It surpassed promised investments in the two previous meets by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam regime in 2015 and 2019 under late J Jayalalithaa and Edapaddi K Palaniswami, respectively. The earlier editions drew investment pledges worth Rs 242,160 crore and Rs 268,296 crore, respectively, but several firms dropped their plans in the following years.
After the DMK formed the state government in May 2021, it framed an ambitious plan to become a $1 trillion economy by 2030. The investors’ summit was organised in pursuit of that goal. Representatives from nine countries, including the US, the UK, Japan, Australia, France, Germany, Denmark and South Korea participated in the event, which included discussions with industry experts and economists.
Although the state did not release a full list of investors, the major firms include Tata Power, which on Monday pledged an additional investment of Rs 70,800 crore in the renewables sector. Singapore’s Sembcorp pledged Rs 37,538 crore, the Adani Group promised an investment of Rs 42,768 crore and Leap Energy pledged Rs 22,800 crore.
Singapore’s high commissioner Simon Wong announced that companies from the island nation will invest Rs 31,000 crore in the state. Three Taiwanese footwear firms, TKG Takewang, Hong Fu and Long Yin Investment, which manufacture shoes for global brands such as Nike, will invest Rs 3,750 crore.
On Sunday, one of the major deals was by Vietnamese automaker VinFast Auto, which promised to invest Rs 16,000 crore ($2 billion) to build an electric vehicle factory in Thoothukudi.
Honoured to share the dais with Hon'ble Union Minister of Commerce & Industry Thiru @PiyushGoyal and esteemed industry leaders,
Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra said on Monday that the main power of the Global Investors’ Summit came through the number of investments that were accounted for and that Tamil Nadu is poised to become one of the main engines of growth in India.
Speaking to reporters at the Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet (TNGIM), Anand Mahindra said, “The main power of the Investors’ Summit came through the number of investments that were accounted for. It looks very clear that Tamil Nadu is going to become one of the main engines of growth in India.”
Taking to social media handle X, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin posted, “The first day of #TNGIM2024 has been marked by a series of successful and noteworthy events. Later today, in my valedictory address, I will announce the total investments secured by Tamil Nadu at this Global Investors Meet. It’s been our enduring message that Tamil Nadu is overseas investors’ first port of call, striving to ascend as the premier state in South Asia.”
The Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet 2024 has attracted record investments of Rs 6.64 lakh crore, much higher than the estimated sum of about Rs 5 lakh crore and double the investment that was attracted in the previous GIM held in 2019, according to Stalin.
“#TNGIM2024, which caught India’s attention, has received a remarkable influx of investments,” posted Stalin on X.
The investment commitment will be a major boost for Chief Minister MK Stalin’s vision of the state becoming a $1 trillion economy by 2030.
The announcement comes ahead of Vibrant Gujarat, the investor’s conclave in Gujarat, to be held in Gandhinagar on Wednesday.
The two-day Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet (GIM) 2024, hosted by the DMK government, got off to a blistering start at the Chennai Trade Centre on January 7.
On day 1, the government released its Semiconductor and Advanced Electronics Policy, 2024, on a day when a slew of memoranda of understandings (MoUs) entailing mega-investments were signed.
The Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet is a business summit organized by the Government of Tamil Nadu to facilitate domestic and foreign investments in the state.
Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor India announced Rs 6,180 crore investment plans in Tamil Nadu, which includes Rs 180 crore towards a dedicated ‘Hydrogen Valley Innovation Hub,’ in association with IIT- Madras.
This commitment which was made during the ongoing investors summit is in addition to the Rs 20,000 crore investment planned in a phased manner over 10 years (2023 to 2032) to augment its efforts in electric vehicle manufacturing, charging infrastructure and skill development.
An MoU was exchanged between Unsoo Kim, MD and CEO, of Hyundai Motor India and V Arun Roy, Secretary to Government, Industries Department, Tamil Nadu in the presence of MK Stalin, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and Textiles, TRB Rajaa, Minister for Industries, Investment Promotion and Commerce, Thiru Shiv Das Meena, Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu and other senior officials during the inaugural ceremony of Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet 2024.
“Hyundai is one of the largest and most consistent investors in Tamil Nadu for the past 27 years. We extend our heartfelt gratitude for the unwavering support and guidance received from the state. This substantial investment of Rs 6 180 crore is a testament to our enduring commitment to fortifying the state’s pursuit to boost the socio-economic development in the State and make the country self-reliant,” said Unsoo Kim, MD and CEO, of Hyundai Motor India.
Like every year, the entire village celebrated the 265th birthday of freedom fighter Veerapandiya Kattabomman this time as well….reports Asian Lite News
On the occasion of the 265th birth anniversary of Veerapandiya Kattabomman bullock cart races were held in the village of Vaippar near Vlathikulam in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi district today.
Like every year, the entire village celebrated the 265th birthday of freedom fighter Veerapandiya Kattabomman this time as well.
Winners of the bullock cart races were showered with prizes of Rs 1 lakh cash, lambs, and LED TV. The event gathered a crowd who watched the Bullock cart race with interest.
Many pairs of bullock carts from various parts of Tamil Nadu like Thoothukudi, Nellai, Madurai, Ramanathapuram, Theni, and Virudhunagar became a part of this event at Vaipar ECR (East Coast Road) road today.
The competition was held in 3 categories – big bullock cart, small bullock cart and poonjittu. Following this, the owners of the bullock carts and the drivers who won the competition were honoured with prizes.
பதினெட்டாம் நூற்றாண்டிலேயே இந்திய விடுதலைப் போராட்ட வரலாற்றில் தென்னகத்தின் தியாக அத்தியாயங்களைத் தம் வீரத்தால் எழுதிய முன்னோடிகளான வீரமங்கை வேலுநாச்சியார், வீரபாண்டிய கட்டபொம்மன் ஆகியோரின் பிறந்தநாள் இன்று!
Notably, the Great warrior Kattabomman popularly known as ” Veerapandiya Kattabomman” raised his voice against the British regime was born in the 17th century AD in Panchalankurichi, a small historic village located 25km from Thoothukudi and 55 km from Tirunelveli.
The existing Memorial Fort was constructed in 1974, by the government of Tamil Nadu. The Memorial Hall has beautiful paintings depicting the heroic deeds of the saga which give a good idea about the history of the period.
Sri Devi Jakkammal Temple, the hereditary Goddess of Kattabomman, is located in the fort complex. Cemetery of British soldiers can also be seen near the fort. The rest of the old fort is protected by the Department of Archaeology. City bus services are available from Thoothukudi.
On January 3 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister paid his homage to the great warriors “Today is the birthday of the pioneers Veeramankai Velunachiyar and Veerapandiya Kattabomman, who wrote the sacrifice chapters of the south in the history of the Indian freedom struggle in the eighteenth century! All Indians should know the bravery of these two who refused to pay taxes, resisted the creation of the British, and proclaimed the character of a Tamil who was bigger than life! The land that planted the seeds of freedom struggle a century before the 1857 soldier’s mutiny should be remembered as Tamil Nadu! (ANI)
