Tamil Nadu

Welfare Schemes & Disability Rights

Free Bus Travel with UDID Card:
- The Welfare of Differently Abled Department issued a Government Order (G.O.) enabling persons with disabilities (having over 40% disability) and their accompanying attendants to travel free of charge in state government buses using their Unique Disability Identification Card (UDID).

Noyyal River Foaming Controversy:
- Widespread public concern surfaced over toxic foaming in the Noyyal River (flowing through Coimbatore, Tiruppur, and Karur districts) and the Orathuppalayam Dam.

Noyyal River
- The Noyyal River is a 180 km-long seasonal tributary of the Kaveri River which rises in the Vellingiri Hills (Bolampatty Valley) of the Western Ghats within the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve.
- Flows eastwards through Coimbatore, Tiruppur, and Erode districts before draining into the Kaveri River at Noyyal in Karur district. Basin covers an area of about 3,500 km².
- Tributaries of Noyyal river includes Cheyyar, Kausika, Chinnar, and Periar.
- In Sangam literature, it is referred to as Kanchimanadi (காஞ்சிமாநதி) in the Tamil text Perur Puranam.
- “Noyyal” translates to “one who is relieved of diseases”. Derive from the Tamil word “Noy” (நொய்), meaning small grains / nutritious, symbolizing its vital nature.
- Major Dams: Orathuppalayam Dam and Aathupalayam Dam.
Relevance in Freedom Struggle:
- Dheeran Chinnamalai, allied with Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, fought major battles at Odanilai, Arachalur, and Cauvery-Noyyal confluence zones against British forces before being hanged at Sankagiri Fort in 1805.
- On January 10, 1932, during the Civil Disobedience Movement, a peaceful procession was organized by the Desa Bandhu Youth Association on the banks of the Noyyal River in Tiruppur. Tiruppur Kumaran who lead the rally holding Indian flag died due to injuries from lathi charge. He is known as “Kodi Kaatha Kumaran”.

Armed Guards for District Jail Watchtowers:
- Following a major jailbreak in Theni district jail, Director General of Police (Prisons) ordered the deployment of armed warders on watchtowers across all district jails in Tamil Nadu, authorized to use firearms during attacks or escape attempts.

Pradhan Mantri Viksit Gram Swaraj Yojana (PM-VGSY):
- Union Cabinet approved PM-VGSY (Pradhan Mantri Gram Swaraj Yojana) for five-year period from 2026–27 to 2030–31.
- Fund shared between Centre and State with majority from Centre.
- An upgraded version of the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA), focusing on capacity building and digital training for 32 lakh elected representatives and functionaries across 2.55 lakh Gram Panchayats.
- Utilizes the eGramSwaraj portal to formulate evidence-based Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs).