Chennai, Aug 9 (Representative) Aimed at empowering students to achieve global excellence,Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Friday launched the ruling DMK’s yet anotherflagship and the pioneering ‘Tamizh Pudhalvan scheme” providing a monthly assistanceof Rs 1,000 to government school boy students studying in Class 6-12 in Coimbatore. The scheme is akin to the “Pudhumai Penn” scheme launched for girl studentsstudying in Class 6-12 in government and government-aided schools. Under the Tamizh Pudalvan scheme a monthly assistance of Rs 1,000 would beprovided to boys studying in government schools and government aided schoolsfrom Classes VI to XII, and are pursuing higher education. Boys who studied in Tamil-medium government-aided schools, too would benefitfrom the scheme. A total of 3.28 lakh students would be benefitted under the scheme, which waslaunched at an official function held at the Government Arts College in Coimbatore. Launching the scheme, which was yet another revolutionary initiative of the Dravidianmodel DMK governance, Mr Stalin said poverty is not a barrier for education. It may be recalled that an announcement to this effect was made by Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu in the Budget in February this year. While presenting the Budget in the Assembly, he said the Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar Pudhumai Penn Scheme has been successful in achieving the objectiveof increasing enrollment of girls and has now revolutionised the participation of girlsin higher educational institutions. On the same lines, to help boys from poor and marginalized background, studyingin Government schools, realize their dreams of higher education and transform theminto achievers, a grand scheme “Tamizh Pudhalvan“ will be implemented from thecoming financial year.
Under this scheme, boys who have studied in Government schools from 6th to 12thstandard will be provided financial assistance of Rs.1,000 per month in their bankaccounts directly. This assistance would enable them to purchase textbooks, general knowledge booksand magazines to improve their academic performance. Through such initiatives, the potential of the youth will be harnessed and channelizedto enable them to become future pillars of our State and the Nation. This ambitious scheme will benefit more than three lakh students and will be implementedat a cost of Rs.360 crore from the coming year. Stating that more than three lakh girls have benefitted from the Pudumai Penn scheme,the release said there were 7.72 lakh boys studying in government and government-aidedhigher secondary schools in the state. Of them, those pursuing higher education was highest in Tamil Nadu, which has achieved the No.1 status in this. Pointing out that Mr Stalin launched the Pudumai Penn scheme on September 5, 2022, it said because of this the enrollment of girls in higher education has increased last year. A total 2,09,365 girl students were benefitted under the scheme in 2022-23 and in 2023-24,64,231 girls were enrolled additionally taking the beneficiaries to 2,73,596. It said since the launch of the scheme, till date 3,28,280 girls have benefitted for whichthe government had allotted Rs 100.11 crore in 2022-23, Rs 271.66 crore in 2023-24 and Rs 370 crore for 2024-25. From April to July this year Rs 95.61 crore were spent under the scheme, which was nowextended to the Class 6-12 girl students studying in government-aided schools from thecurrent academic year, it added. On similar lines, the Tamizh Pudalvan scheme for boys students was launched today.