Udhayanidhi Stalin Empowers Tamil Nadu with Sports Kits and Welfare Initiatives

In this significant event, I am deeply delighted and honored to participate in the distribution of 1,406 Collector’s Sports Kits to 866 panchayats across Vellore, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, and Nilgiris districts. Additionally, welfare schemes worth ₹131 crore will be distributed today to 4,800 beneficiaries. This marks a historic milestone as Vellore district witnesses an event of this scale, further emphasizing the growing awareness of sports among the people. Serving as the Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development brings me immense pride, as it allows me to witness such transformative changes.

The credit for this increasing awareness goes to the efforts of the Dravidian model government. The consistent organization of international sports tournaments in Tamil Nadu, such as the Chess Olympiad, has elevated our state’s reputation globally. When Tamil Nadu hosted the 44th Chess Olympiad two years ago, Spanish Grandmaster Francisco Vallejo Pons tweeted, “This is the best sports event I have ever attended in my nine Chess Olympiads. The arrangements were extraordinary.”

Typically, organizing an event like the Chess Olympiad requires four years of preparation, but our government accomplished this in just four months. Besides this, Tamil Nadu has hosted events like the World Squash Championship, International Surfing League, ATP Tennis Tournament, Asian Hockey Championship, Formula 4 Car Racing, and International Beach Volleyball tournaments. These events have significantly highlighted the importance of sports among our citizens.

Under the Dravidian model government, Tamil Nadu has transformed into a hub of sports excellence. Our initiatives in the sports sector have garnered national recognition, with Tamil Nadu being awarded the “Best State Promoting Sports” title at the FICCI India Sports Awards 2024 in New Delhi. This accolade is a testament to our commitment to fostering sports talent.

We aim to bring sports opportunities to every community and inspire rural youth to excel on national and international platforms. As part of this mission, we are distributing Collector’s Sports Kits, which include facilities for 33 sports disciplines, to every panchayat. In Vellore district, we are proud to have produced champions like Nithya Sree Sumathi Sivan, who won gold in para-badminton at various international tournaments, including the Asian Youth Para Games and the Spanish Para Badminton Championship. Similarly, our youth like Tambi Yasin, who represented India in handball and won the Asian Men’s Youth Championship in Jordan, are making us proud.

Recognizing and supporting such achievements is our government’s priority. We provide significant incentives and a 3% reservation for sports talents in government jobs. Today, we are distributing three-wheel scooters and other welfare assistance to 170 differently-abled individuals in Vellore district. This reflects our commitment to inclusivity and ensuring that no one is left behind.

Moreover, our government has implemented transformative initiatives for women, including interest-free loans, self-help group funding, and schemes like the Kalaignar Women’s Entitlement Scheme, which provides ₹1,000 monthly financial assistance to eligible women. In the past three years, we have provided this assistance to over 16 lakh women.

In education, we continue to empower girls through schemes like the Pudhumai Penn initiative, which offers ₹1,000 monthly scholarships for college-going girls. Similarly, the Tamil Nadu Breakfast Scheme ensures nutritious meals for children in primary schools. Over 20 lakh children benefit from this scheme daily, enhancing their health and education.

Our government’s focus remains on holistic development, empowering marginalized communities, and ensuring socio-economic progress for all. The Dravidian model stands as a beacon of hope, emphasizing equity, empowerment, and excellence.