Tamil Nadu

Wildlife Conservation & Environmental Policy

Notification of 3 New Elephant Corridors: The Tamil Nadu government officially notified three new elephant corridors in the Cauvery North Wildlife Sanctuary (Hosur Forest Division) to mitigate human-wildlife conflict and secure migration links between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka:
1. Jawalagiri – Ulbanda – Thaggatti Corridor
2. Jawalagiri – Panai – Anchetty Corridor
3. Bilikkal – Jawalagiri Corridor
4. Ecological Context: Identified by High Court-appointed committees with the Palghat gap as a boundary landscape, these corridors protect monsoonal migration routes across the interstate boundary.

SC/ST Hostel Food Allowance Hike: The monthly food allowance was increased from ₹1,400 to ₹1,800 for school hostel students, and from ₹1,500 to ₹2,000 for college hostel students belonging to SC and ST communities.
Minority & MBC Welfare Initiatives:
- New Women’s College in Chennai: Established via the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board for minority girl students.
- Free Higher Education Tuition for Muslim Women: The State will bear undergraduate tuition fees for Muslim girl students admitted under government quota in government, aided, and self-financing colleges.
- Educational Assistance for Classes 9 & 10: Raised to ₹2,000 per year for 41,384 Muslim girl students through the Waqf Board.
- MBC Welfare Board: Constituted to register eligible members and advance the social, educational, and economic advancement of Most Backward Classes.
- District Minority Welfare Officers: Posts created across 10 districts.
- Church Restoration Grant: For conserving and renovating ancient heritage churches without altering their architectural character.

Nammazhvar Organic Farming Awards (2025–26): Conferred on C. Nallasivam (Namakkal), A. Subramanian (Pudukkottai), and Sadhana (Chengalpattu) for outstanding contributions to organic farming.