Latest news with #MahatmaGandhiNationalRuralEmploymentGuaranteeProgramme
The Hindu
6 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
National Sample Survey awareness event held
The Field Operations Division of National Statistics Office organised a community discussion and awareness programme with the people of Petchiparai village on Tuesday on National Sample Surveys. The event highlighted the benefits of National Sample Surveys (NSS) and aimed to foster a participatory data ecosystem by engaging the people of the village. The event was part of a nationwide initiative to raise awareness among the general public, particularly rural communities, about the importance and impact of the NSS in national development and policymaking. Assistant Director of National Statistics Office, Southern Regional Office K.T. Sudheer briefed the participants about the purpose of the programme and the legacy of the NSS, which has been instrumental in generating reliable data since 1950. He emphasised that NSS surveys cover a wide range of subjects including employment, consumer expenditure, health, education, and social welfare and provide essential data for both Central and State Governments in framing evidence-based policies. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from villagers, youth, women's Self-Help Groups (SHGs), farmers, school teachers, anganwadi workers and various community members. Over 150 residents gathered at the Community Hall, reflecting strong local interest in understanding the role of statistics in governance. Interactive sessions were held where officials from NSO explained how survey data is collected, the importance of accurate responses, and how this data shapes key initiatives like PM Awas Yojana, Ayushman Bharat, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme and food security schemes. Participants were invited to share their personal experiences regarding government welfare schemes and how survey participation can help improve their implementation.
The Hindu
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
After enjoying loan waiver of ₹ 16 lakh crore, corporate firms collect toll from TNSTC buses, says Appavu
The Corporate firms that enjoyed a whopping loan waiver of ₹16 lakh crore, thanks to the largesse of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union Government are collecting toll from the Tamil Nadu State Corporation buses offering free travel for students and the women to encourage them to be productive workforce, Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker M. Appavu said. During an informal chat with the reporters here on Wednesday, Mr. Appavu, when asked about his reaction on the Court's order empowering 4 toll plazas in southern Tamil Nadu not to allow the TNSTC buses for the toll arrears to the tune of ₹276 crore, said the TNSTC, which operates buses to remote villages without increasing the fare even though the diesel is being sold at ₹92 a litre, also ply free buses for the women and the students. The Tamil Nadu Government bears this cost by paying over ₹3,700 crore a year to the TNSTC. Apart from this, the timely disbursal of salary to the TNSTC and State Express Transport Corporation workers had been ensured since 2021. 'Mr. Narendra Modi, if he is really concerned about the women empowerment and prosperity and the continued education of the children, should instruct the Ministry of Highways not to collect toll from the TNSTC buses for its yeomen service. However, he is supporting only these Corporate firms collecting toll from the TNSTC buses and giving them loan waiver to the tune of over 16 lakh crore. Mr. Modi also refuses to release Tamil Nadu's due share under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme and Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan citing the reason that the State had rejected the Centre's New Education Policy,' Mr. Appavu slammed. He also criticised the Indian Railways for having posted North Indians, who do not know Tamil, the local language, as gatekeepers at railway level crossings. 'Even after this serious issue has resulted in an accident killing three innocent children, the railway officials have not realised the gravity of the problem,' the Speaker said. He justified the use of temple funds for opening new schools and colleges for providing quality education to the children, especially students form poor families. Mr. Appavu also ridiculed Opposition Leader and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami's claim that the Stalin-led government's policies had strangulated the micro, small and medium industries. 'The State had 14.17 lakh MSME industries till 2021 and the present government has facilitated the creation of 17.95 lakh new MSME units in the past four years alone,' he said.
