₹2 lakh crore allocated for School Education Department in four years: Minister Rajendran

Tourism Minister R. Rajendran on Friday said that in the past four years, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin allocated ₹2 lakh crore for the School Education Department and described it as an investment for the future.

The Minister participated in multiple functions, including flagging off 10 BS VI buses at Salem Old Bus Stand, inaugurating Kalai Thiruvizha State-level competitions for class IX and X students at a private college near Karuppur, and inaugurating a new 108 ambulance service for tribal people at K.N. Pudur Primary Health Centre at Kadayampatti block.

At these functions, the Minister said that after the DMK came to power, a total of 173 BS-VI buses were allocated to the Salem division of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC). Likewise, 180 Magalir Vidiyal Payanam and 195 mofussil buses were newly operated. Under free bus travel, 42.46 crore trips were made by women in the Salem division of TNSTC.

Under the leadership of the Chief Minister, Tamil Nadu got first place in 13 departments, including eradication of poverty, education, health, and employment. In the last three academic years, 11.45 lakh students at the school level, 1.33 lakh students at the taluk level, 30,799 students at the district level and 1,819 students at the State level participated in Kalai Thiruvizha. Of that, 214 students won the competitions. In 2022-23, Salem district got second place and received a cup from the Chief Minister, the Minister added.

Explaining the achievements of the Health Department in Salem district, Mr. Rajendran said that the 108 ambulance flagged off on Friday will benefit more than 3,000 tribal people residing in the Kadayampatti block. During emergency situations like pregnancy, snake and other poisonous insect bites, the ambulance service will help the tribal people to reach the hospital quickly to get medical treatment, he added.

District Collector R. Brindha Devi, Salem West MLA R. Arul, Mayor A. Ramachandran and officials participated.