Extension of Pudhumai Penn scheme will benefit 1,689 students in Namakkal, says Minister

Pudhumai Penn scheme extended to Tamil medium government-aided schools, providing monthly assistance to female students in Namakkal district.

The extension of the Pudhumai Penn scheme to students of Tamil medium government-aided schools would ensure monthly assistance to 1,689 female students in Namakkal district, Adi Dravidar Welfare Minister M. Mathiventhan said on Monday.

The minister was distributing debit cards to beneficiary students under the scheme during a function held at Namakkal Kavignar Ramalingam Government Women’s Arts College, following a similar function at Thoothukudi where Chief Minister M. K. Stalin distributed debit cards to students of the district’s Tamil medium government-aided schools.

Speaking at the function, Mr. Mathiventhan said that the Chief Minister was implementing such schemes in order to encourage students to pursue higher education. “Earlier under the Pudhumai Penn scheme, students who had completed Class VI to XII in Tamil medium government schools were eligible for monthly assistance. The Chief Minister has now extended the scheme to students of government-aided schools. This will benefit 4.80 lakh students in the State, and in Namakkal, 1,689 students will benefit,” the minister added.

Later, the minister awarded prizes to 15 students who excelled in competitions marking the silver jubilee of the Thiruvalluvar Statue in Kanniyakumari district. He also presented ₹54,000 in cash rewards to nine farmers in Namakkal for supplying quality milk to Aavin and launched the sale of Pongal kits by the cooperative department. The kits, priced at ₹199, ₹499, and ₹999, are available in three categories.

District officials, including Namakkal District Collector S. Uma and Rajya Sabha MP K.R.N. Rajeshkumar, participated in the event, alongside representatives from various government departments.

At a similar event held at Salem Government Arts College for Women in Gorimedu, Salem District Collector R. Brindha Devi distributed debit cards to 674 students. She announced that a total of 23,927 students in Salem district would benefit from the Pudhumai Penn scheme.