For the first time in the history of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, an exclusive budget for agriculture was presented today by the Tamil Nadu Minister for Agriculture and Farmer’s Welfare MRK Pannerselvam. The minister began the presentation by dedicating the budget to those farmers who are protesting at New Delhi against the farm laws.
READ | TN Agriculture Budget 2021 Highlights: Separate dept for organic farming, new scheme for self-sufficiency in villages
Days after a viral video showed a Dalit officer of the Ottarpalayam village administrative office in Annur taluk of Coimbatore touching an upper caste man’s foot with netizens demanded action, a clip Saturday showed the officer slapping the man before falling to his feet.
READ | New viral video: Coimbatore’s Dalit govt employee had first slapped man, then fallen to his feet
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On the ocassion of India's 75th Independence Day, Chief Minister MK Stalin Sunday unveiled a pillar near Napier Bridge in Chennai.
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The 75th Independence Day celebrations took place at the Fort St. George in Chennai today. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin hoisted the national flag for the first time at around 9 am. Here are some of the pictures from the function.
Implementing its electoral promise of appointing aspirants belonging to all castes as temple priests, the DMK government on Saturday appointed as many as 24 trained 'archakas' of various communities as priests in shrines.
Chief Minister M K Stalin handed over the appointment orders of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department to 75 persons here marking appointments to 208 positions under various categories.
The appointments include 24 aspirants who had formally completed training in a state-run centre for becoming priests in Hindu temples, 34 others who completed 'archaka' training in other 'patashalas.'
The 208 appointees include "Bhattacharyas," "Odhuvars" Poojaris and technical and office assistants who were recruited after due process, the government said. (PTI)
Tamil Nadu recorded 1,916 new COVID-19 infections and 34 deaths taking the tally to 25,86,885 and 34,496 till date, the Health Department said on Saturday. A total of 1,866 people got discharged in the last 24 hours taking the number cured of the infection to 25,31,962 so far, said a bulletin.
Chennai reported 219 cases and Coimbatore reported 223 cases.
The Madras High Court issued an interim order Friday directing the All India Sports Council of the Deaf (AISCD) to permit 18-year-old athlete Sameeha Barwin to participate in the World Deaf Athletics Championship to be held at Lublin, Poland from August 23-28.
The long jumper had moved the court alleging gender discrimination after AISCD refused to select her for the championship. Last month, Sameeha had taken part in the national selection trials held in New Delhi and jumped a distance of 5.5 metres, well over the qualification mark of 4.25 metres.
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Gandhian ideals are the "greatest weapon" to give direction to the country which is facing challenges related to caste, religion and creed and this should be instilled in the minds of the youth, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin said on Sunday.
In his address after unfurling the Indian tricolour here on the occasion of the 75th Independence Day, the chief minister also announced hiking pension and family pension being given to the freedom fighters from the state.
"Lets take a vow to instil in the youths' mind that Gandhian ideals are the greatest weapon to lead India which is facing challenges related to caste, religion and creed," he said.
Mahatma Gandhi had a "deep relationship" with Tamil Nadu and it was during one such visit to the state that he decided to opt for simpler outfit. "Mahatma Gandhi had visited Tamil Nadu 20 times in his lifetime. When he came to Madurai 100 years ago, Tamil Nadu gave him a farewell..." when he had decided to go for simpler outfit, he said. (PTI)
Former Big Boss Tamil contestant and actress Meera Mithun was arrested by the Chennai Crime Branch in Kerala for passing derogatory remarks against the scheduled caste community. The arrest comes a couple of days after the actor failed to appear before police for an inquiry.
In a video purportedly recorded by herself, Meera is heard saying she is being harassed by male police officers and is further seen screaming at the officers and even threatening to harm herself if they try to arrest her.
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Days after a viral video showed a Dalit officer of the Ottarpalayam village administrative office in Annur taluk of Coimbatore touching an upper caste man’s foot with netizens demanded action, a clip Saturday showed the officer slapping the man before falling to his feet.
On August 6, Gopalasamy, a farmer, who hails from the same village, had visited the administrative office and got involved in an argument with the officer, Kalai Selvi, over a land dispute. Assistant officer Muthusamy, who was present in the office at that time, had intervened and asked the person not to abuse the official.
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The National Flag was hoisted at the Ripon Building in Chennai, on occasion of the India's 75th Independence Day. Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner (GCC) Gangandeep Singh Bedi, among other officials participated in the flag hoisting program.
Chief Minister MK Stalin, during his Independence Day speech said that the Tamil Nadu government is planning to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of freedom fighter VO Chidambaram in a grand manner.
During his first Independence Day speech, Chief Minister MK Stalin announced that the pension for freedom fighters will be hiked from Rs.17,000 to Rs.18,000 per month.
On the ocassion of the 75th Independence Day celebrations in Chennai, Chief Minister Stalin Sunday said that the Gandhi Museum in Madurai would be renovated at a cost of Rs 6 crore.
The 75th Independence Day celebrations are underway at the Fort St. George in Chennai today. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin hoisted the national flag for the first time.
The Greater Chennai Police has announced traffic diversions in parts of Chennai today. The modifications in the movement of traffic will be given effect from 6 am and go on until the function is over.
The stretch of Kamarajar Salai from Labour Statue up to RBI Subway North on Rajaji Salai and Flag Staff Road will be closed forall the vehicular traffic other than the vehicles with car passes.
Vehicles coming on Kamarajar Salai and proceeding towards Parry's Corner via Rajaji Salai may take the route via Wallajah Salai, Anna Salai, Muthusamy Bridge, Muthusamy Road, R.A. Mandram and NFS Road to reach Parrys Corner.
Vehicles coming on Rajaji Salai and proceeding towards Kamarajar Salai via Secretariat may take the route via Parrys Corner, NFS Road, R.A. Mandram, Muthusamy Road, Muthusamy Bridge, Anna Salai and Wallajah Road to reach Kamarajar Salai.
The vehicles coming from Anna Salai and intending to proceed towards Parrys Corner and Kamarajar Salai via Flag Staff Road may take route via Muthusamy Bridge, Muthusamy Road, R.A. Mandram, NFS Road to reach Parrys Corner and Anna Salai, Wallajah Road to reach Kamarajar Salai respectively.
The Greater Chennai Police announced that more than 3,000 police officers and guards have been deployed to provide security for the 75th Independence Day celebrations happening at Fort St. George today.
Vanakkam Chennai. Happy Independence Day!
Welcome to the today’s live blog. We bring to you the latest news on Covid-19, politics, features, entertainment, sports, art and culture from across Chennai and Tamil Nadu. Follow our live blog and @ie_chennai to stay up to date with what’s happening in the state.
Here are the top highlights from Tamil Nadu Agriculture Minister MKR Paneerselvam' agriculture budget speech today.
Here are the top highlights from Tamil Nadu Agriculture Minister MKR Paneerselvam' agriculture budget speech today.
Here are the top highlights from Tamil Nadu Agriculture Minister MKR Paneerselvam' agriculture budget speech today.
The Tamil Nadu government will implement the Collective Farming scheme by coordinating with 1.10 lakh farmers and by forming 1,100 farmer producer organisations at a cost of Rs 59.55 crore, Agriculture Minister MRK Panneerselvam said.
Mobile vegetable shops will be set up in Chennai, Trichy, Coimbatore, Salem and Tiruppur. In the first phase, a subsidy of Rs. 2 lakh will be given and the vegetables will be sold at farmer's market price.
The Tamil Nadu government will set up an integrated village agriculture market for the farmers in Nilgiris.
The Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare MRK Panneerselvam concluded his two-hour-long budget speech for the agriculture sector.
The Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare MRK Panneerselvam announced that the Nammalavar organic research farming centre will be set up at the campus of Coimbatore Agricultural University. It will be set up at a cost of Rs 3 crore.
The Tamil Nadu government has decided to establish a research centre for turmeric in Erode district in Tamil Nadu.
The Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare MRK Panneerselvam said that Rs 6 crore was allocated to set up 'Uzhavar Santhai' in 10 districts including Cuddalore, Kallakurichi, Dindigul, Thanjavur, Tiruchi, Vellore, Tirunelveli. The steps were taken to better the condition of 50 'Uzhavar Santhai' across the state, he said.
The Tamil Nadu government will create 500 farm ponds at the cost of Rs 1 lakh each at 100 % subsidy.
The Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare MRK Panneerselvam announced that solar powered pumpset scheme will be implemented with 70 percent subsidy at a cost of Rs.114.68 crore.
The Tamil Nadu government announced a special incentive of Rs 150 per tonne for cane growers and the sugar procurement price has now been increased to Rs 2,900.
Agriculture minister MRK Panneerselvam announced that Rs. 40 crore has been allocated as an incentive for sugarcane farmers who supplied sugarcane to the mills in the financial year 2020-21. The incentive for sugarcane farmers will be Rs. 42.50 per tonne.
The Tamil Nadu government has decided to allocate Rs 4,508.23 crore to provide free electricity to farmers.
Agriculture minister MRK Panneerselvam said that Rs 2,327 crore will be allocated for the ongoing implementation of the crop insurance scheme in 2021-22.
Palm tree production to increase in the state through the Palm Development Scheme. 76 lakh palm seeds will be distributed in 30 districts and steps will be intiated to take palm products to the people.
The Minister of Agriculture has announced that a separate division will be created for organic farming and agriculture.
Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare MRK Panneerselvam said that Kalaignar's Intergrated Rural Agriculture Plan will be implemented in Tamil Nadu.
Agriculture minister MRK Panneerselvam announced that steps will be taken to increase the area under dual cultivation to 20 lakh hectares in the next 10 years.
Agriculture minister MRK Pannerselvam said that an additional 11.75 lakh hectares will be cultivated on barren lands and the net cultivable area will be increased from 60 per cent to 75 per cent.
Agriculture minister MRK Panneerselvam said that the Agriculture budget was prepared after taking into consideration the opinions of various representatives of farmers' unions.
Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare MRK Panneerselvam begins to present the first ever agriculture budget for the year 2021-2022.
Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare MRK Panneerselvam paid respect to Kalaignar Karunanidhi at his memorial before leaving to Kalaivanar Arangam to present agriculture budget.
The Opposition parties in Tamil Nadu slammed the ruling DMK government’s revised Budget for the financial year 2021-22 and said it lacks vision.
BJP leader K Annamalai, who took to Twitter, wrote DMK has short term amnesia on the poll promises they made. “The Budget of @arivalayam govt presented today…NO Vision for TN, as expected…GIVING our central government a baby name, as usual…BLAMING the previous tenant for not maintaining the house & knowing this is what one will occupy. Short term AMNESIA on premises made to come to power,” he wrote.
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The Madras High Court on Friday issued notice to the Central and state governments on a plea from Nalini Sriharan, one of the seven convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, seeking direction for the release of all of them without waiting for the nod of the Tamil Nadu Governor.
Nalini and six others–Murugan, Santhan, Perarivalan, Jayakumar, Ravichandran and Robert Payas–are serving life term in the assassination of the former Prime Minister, during a poll rally near here in May 1991.
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The chief pontiff of the Madurai Adheenam, Sri la sri Arunagirinathar, died here on Friday following brief illness.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin and Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly K Palaniswami condoled the death.
According to an official in the Adheenam, a Shaivite mutt, the pontiff breathed his last at a private hospital in the city where he was admitted to a few days ago after complaining of difficulty in breathing. He was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. The 77-year-old Arunagiri Nathar was the 292nd head of the 1500-year-old religious institution.
In a statement, Stalin expressed grief over the pontiff's death and recalled his work in spreading the Shaivite principles as the head of the mutt. He was also a very good journalist and involved himself in various pro-people initiatives and his demise was a "great loss," the chief minister said in an official statement. (PTI)
Tamil Nadu Minister for Human Resource and Finance PTR Palaivel Thiagarajan Friday presented MK Stalin-led DMK government’s maiden budget. For the first time in the history of the Tamil Nadu assembly, a paper-less budget was presented. Before presenting the revised budget for 2021-22, the Finance Minister said identifying the problem is the first step before solving them and that was the reason behind publishing the ‘White Paper’ on state’s finances.
Before the Finance Minister could begin his speech, the AIADMK MLAs staged a walkout as the Speaker denied the Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami’s appeal to speak before the budget session could commence.
In a relief to the working class in the state, the Finance Minister said petrol price has been slashed by Rs 3 per litre on the directions of Chief Minister MK Stalin. The decision is expected to cost Rs 1,160 crore to the state exchequer.
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Tamil Nadu Minister for Finance and Human Resource, P Thiaga Rajan thanked Chief Minister MK Stalin for entrusing him with great responsibility of presenting the amended budget for the financial year 2021-22.
Commenting on Tamil Nadu Government's revised budget, actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam leader Kamal Haasan said there has been a lot of difference on what the ruling party promised in their election manifesto and what they have included in the budget.'Those who expected a change in the budget were left disappointed,' he wrote on Twitter. Haasan earlier urged the state government to ensure a live telecast of the proceedings in the Tamil Nadu assembly as it will help the common man to know the opinion of the members of the assembly over the issues affecting them
Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai said the MK-Stalin-led government's maiden budget lacks vision. Taking to Twitter, he wrote that the DMK government has a short amnesia on poll promises they made to come to power.
Here are the top highlights from Tamil Nadu Finance Minister PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan's budget speech today.
Here are the top highlights from Tamil Nadu Finance Minister PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan's budget speech today.
Tamil Nadu’s new Finance Minister, Palanivel Thiagarajan, popularly known as PTR, stands out because of his exceptional qualifications. He spent 20 years abroad, has an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management in the US and has worked for international investment corporations and banks. In addition, he belongs to a distinguished political dynasty of the state. But, PTR also tends to shoot off his mouth.
He ruffled feathers in the establishment recently by describing celebrity yoga guru Jaggi Vasudev as a “publicity hound” and compounded it by later quoting an audit report suggesting that the guru’s foundation had usurped forest land.
Chief Minister M K Stalin’s father, the late M Karunanidhi, had good ties with Jaggi, even though the DMK has atheist roots. While DMK sources insist that PTR and Stalin enjoy an amicable relationship and PTR has been given a free hand, for some reason, PTR has been relegated to 26th place in official precedence in the Cabinet, although conventionally, finance ministers rank No. 2 in the hierarchy. PTR recently got into a spat with Goa Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho. At the GST Council meeting, he tried to cut Godhino’s speech short arguing that a small state like Goa should not get the same weightage and time as Tamil Nadu. He also referred to Godhino as an “empty vessel”.
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PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan has concluded his budget speech. The paperless budget was DMK's maiden budget after assuming power earlier this year.
The Finance Minister has announced that the fund for social security pensions has been increased to Rs. 4807.56 crore for the year.
A total of Rs. 81,884.70 crore has been allocated for the education development of Adi Dravidars and tribals.
Rs. 1725 crore has been allocated for MGR lunch scheme for the year 2021-22.
The state's revenue deficit is expected to be Rs. 58,692.68 crore for the year 2021-22.
The maternity leave for government employees has been raised to one year.