Tamil Nadu government reports a 34 percent increase in girl student enrollment in higher education following the introduction of the Pudhumai Penn scheme.
Coimbatore: The Tamil Nadu government has reported a significant 34% increase in the enrollment of girl students in higher education, attributing the rise to the successful implementation of the Pudhumai Penn scheme, officially known as the Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar Higher Education Assurance Scheme. Launched in September 2022 by the Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, the scheme currently benefits approximately 2.73 lakh girls.
The initiative provides a monthly financial aid of ₹1,000 to eligible girls who graduated from state-run schools from Classes VI to XII and are now pursuing higher studies. This move is part of a broader effort to support educational advancement among girl students.
In addition to Pudhumai Penn, the government highlighted the success of the Naan Mudhalvan scheme, under which more than 27 lakh students have benefited. The Naan Mudhalvan scheme is designed to augment skills and employment opportunities, with over 1.19 lakh students having already secured jobs. Partnerships with the Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation have allowed for the introduction of specialized courses in polytechnic, engineering, and arts and science colleges.
Furthermore, the government has provided ₹213.37 crore in financial assistance for hostel and other educational expenses to 28,601 beneficiaries of the 7.5% reservation in professional courses for students from government schools. An expansive funding initiative also saw about ₹1,000 crore allocated to aid 13,241 first-generation college students over the past three years.
In promoting research and innovation, the government is also backing 1,960 proposals under the Chief Minister's Research Grant scheme. Additionally, the Higher Education Department is constructing a 2,000-seat auditorium at Chennai's Presidency College, named after the late former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, at a cost of ₹63 crore.
The continued efforts by the State government to boost higher education accessibility and quality highlight a strong commitment to empowering the youth of Tamil Nadu through education.