Latest news with #PalanivelThiagaRajan
New Indian Express
19-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Declining agri share in GDP may weaken Tamil Nadu's social fabric: PTR
CHENNAI: IT and Digital Services Minister Dr Palanivel Thiaga Rajan on Thursday acknowledged the declining share of agriculture in the state's GDP - driven in part by the rapid growth of electronics manufacturing - but cautioned that unchecked structural imbalances in the rural economy could weaken the social fabric. 'It is vital to the health of society that small and medium-sized farm organisations, especially in the plains and hill regions, receive targeted support to survive and grow,' he said, while speaking at the 44th Foundation Day of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development's (NABARD) Tamil Nadu Regional Office. 'A vibrant middle - whether in class or enterprise - is the hallmark of a stable democracy. Without it, stratification leads to disparity,' he said. His comments come as the state doubles down on its push to become a $1 trillion economy, with rural infrastructure, digital agriculture, and climate resilience seen as critical enablers. The minister urged NABARD to deepen its role in facilitating inclusive growth through innovation in agri-finance and institutional capacity-building. He released the Indicative Unit Cost booklet for FY2025-26, a key reference tool for banks to assess long-term farm loan requirements, and launched NABTRACE, a mobile application designed to enable traceability in agricultural commodity supply chains. He also commended NABARD's contributions to the rural economy through special funds such as RIDF and NIDA, and its support for computerising all Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) in the state.
The Hindu
18-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Focus must be on climate resilience for benefit of farmers, fishermen, says Soumya Swaminathan
Soumya Swaminathan, Chairperson, MS Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), said the creation of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) was a visionary step, and over the last 44 years, it has made some considerable accomplishments. Speaking at the 44th Foundation Day celebrations of NABARD, she said both the MSSRF and NABARD were coming together for the 'Climate Smart Village' project. 'Weather fluctuations due to climate change are here to stay. So, we have to focus on climate resilience, especially for [the benefit of] farmers and fishermen. We have just started a programme called Climate Smart Village in Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai. We look at how to optimally use natural resources and how to plan for the future,' she added. Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services Palanivel Thiaga Rajan said agriculture's share in Tamil Nadu's Gross Domestic Product has been decreasing, particularly, as there had been a surge in electronics goods manufacturing over the last few years. 'It is vital for the health of society that the right kind of support is provided at all levels of the farming spectrum, across the plains and hills, to enable small and medium farm organisations to thrive,' he added. R. Anand, Chief General Manager of NABARD Tamil Nadu Regional Office, said over ₹50,000 crore of funds had been disbursed in Tamil Nadu in the financial year 2024-25 for building infrastructure and agricultural refinance. He noted that this was the highest quantum of funds disbursed by NABARD to any State in the country. V. Srinivasan, General Manager, Reserve Bank of India, and P.S, Harikrishnaraj, General Manager, NABARD, Tamil Nadu Regional Office, also spoke.
The Hindu
17-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Minister opens facilitation centre at Anna University for deep-tech innovations
Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services Palanivel Thiaga Rajan inaugurated the Tamil Nadu Technology Transfer Facilitation Centre (TNTTFC) for deeptech innovations at the iTamil Nadu Technology (iTNT) Hub in Anna University. It is funded by the government under the Tamil Nadu Innovation Initiatives. The centre aims at establishing a State-wide hub to bridge the gap between academic institutions and research organisations, with start-ups and industries, and by facilitating the transfer of deeptech innovations. This is to ensure that Tamil Nadu's leading IP and research ecosystem translates into economic and societal benefits. TNTTFC will address systemic challenges, including commercialisation hurdles. 'This will enable Tamil Nadu to compete at an international level in fields such as AI, semiconductors, biotechnology, and clean energy,' the Minister said. The centre will act as a centralised platform for and global collaborations, including IP management, licensing, and market analysis. 'It will actively support start-ups, MSMEs, and researchers in scaling and commercialising innovative technologies through structured funding, training and mentorship programmes,' J. Jeyaranjan, Executive Vice Chairman of the State Planning Commission said. Brajendra Navnit, Principal Secretary to Government, Information Technology and Digital Services Department, said: 'TNTTFC will offer comprehensive support to end-to-end IP Management; empower researchers and innovators to transform IP into successful ventures through dedicated spinoff support; and seed grant for proof-of-concept validation, prototype development, and early market testing.' 'This will facilitate the execution of joint projects, contract research, and consulting engagements that address industry needs, while advancing scientific discovery,' said Vanitha Venugopal, CEO of iTNT Hub.
The Hindu
14-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Creating the right talent and grounding key to attracting GCCs, says Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan
Creating the right talent and grounding is key to attracting Global Capability Centres (GCCs), said Tamil Nadu Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services Palanivel Thiaga Rajan in Coimbatore on Monday. Speaking at the GCC Coimbatore Summit 2025, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) – Coimbatore, he said, 'The greatest challenge for GCCs is to avoid over-reliance on niche specialists. The need is for well-rounded professionals who can work across functions and integrate easily with global platforms. The more we produce such talent, the more attractive cities like Coimbatore become for global firms.' He said GCCs seek professionals who can grow as they would in any global city, and that Coimbatore's culture of inclusion, openness, and entrepreneurship sets it apart. Retaining this spirit, along with fostering innovation, is key to the city's next phase of growth. The theme of the summit was Coimbatore: India's Twin-Engine GCC Hub, highlighting how the city's traditional strength in industrial engineering is now intersecting with digital innovation — all within the cost structures of a Tier-II city but with the capabilities of a Tier-I metro. Mahalingam Ramasamy, Convenor of the GCC Taskforce, CII Coimbatore, said, 'The transformation is happening at Tier-II cost structures without compromising on Tier-I capabilities. This makes Coimbatore competitive and future-ready. Unlike congested Tier-I metros, the city offers scalability without saturation. It provides a robust platform for companies to build multidisciplinary centres focused on high-value work.' R. Nandini, Immediate Past Chairperson of CII Southern Region and Managing Director of Chandra Textiles Pvt. Ltd., said one of the city's key strengths lies in its educational ecosystem. 'The city has nine institutions in the top 100 of the NIRF national rankings and produces over one lakh graduates every year, with more than 50,000 in STEM disciplines. Yet, more than 50% of this talent migrates to metro cities. Retaining this talent pool is critical. GCCs can serve as a catalyst for Coimbatore's emergence as a global industrial and digital hub.' The summit featured sessions on infrastructure, quality of life, and GCC readiness. Guidance Tamil Nadu outlined investment schemes, and panels discussed office space, talent, and digital transformation. The summit also saw the launch of a report by Zinnov and CBRE, focusing on the potential for GCC expansion in Coimbatore.
New Indian Express
06-07-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
PTR inaugurates global eye surgery meet, highlights Tamil Nadu's medical tourism
CHENNAI: Minister for Information and Technology Palanivel Thiaga Rajan inaugurated the Indian Intraocular Implant and Refractive Surgery Convention (IIRSI), a two-day conference focused on new technologies in eye surgeries, on Saturday. Speaking at the event, the minister said medical tourism in Tamil Nadu is drawing people not only to Chennai but also cities like Coimbatore, Madurai, Salem and Tiruchy, adding that the state has the highest number of medical colleges, seats and beds, excluding specialisations. Honouring doctors with gold medals, Thiaga Rajan said the state's focus on eye care dates back to the time when the government introduced 'Kannoli Kaapoam Thittam', an eye screening scheme which was later expanded to include schoolchildren and newborns.
