A recent in-depth study by the State Planning Commission, covering approximately 10,300 households across Tamil Nadu, has shed light on the significant benefits of the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam (KMUT) scheme. The findings indicate that families primarily utilized the financial assistance to secure essential food items, crucial medicines, and to invest in their children’s education.
Notably, the study revealed that a substantial portion of KMUT beneficiaries — around 17% — were single women, encompassing those widowed, separated, divorced, or unmarried. Additionally, about 15% of recipients were senior citizens, underscoring the scheme’s reach to vulnerable populations.
The comprehensive impact assessment report on KMUT was officially presented to Chief Minister M.K. Stalin by Udhayanidhi Stalin, SPC ex-officio vice-chairperson, and J. Jeyaranjan, SPC executive vice-chairperson, in Chennai on Tuesday.
Alongside the KMUT report, several other significant documents were submitted to the Chief Minister. These included an ‘Evaluation of Naan Mudhalvan Scheme,’ a study on ‘Start-Up Ecosystem in TN: Opportunities and Challenges,’ a ‘Draft Housing Policy for Rural and Urban Tamil Nadu,’ and an ‘Integrated Townships Development Policy.’
Key Findings
The report highlighted tangible improvements in beneficiaries’ daily lives. A striking 79% of KMUT recipients in rural areas and 55% in urban centers reported an increase in vegetable purchases for their families. Similarly, 63% of rural beneficiaries and 46% of urban beneficiaries confirmed using their KMUT funds to buy higher-quality rice, indicating an uplift in nutritional standards.
Access to healthcare also saw significant improvement, with approximately 39% of rural and 35% of urban beneficiaries allocating KMUT funds for medicine purchases. Furthermore, the report revealed that a notable one-fifth of recipients were investing their KMUT money directly into their children’s education, securing a brighter future for the next generation.
A crucial aspect emphasized in the report was the unwavering certainty and regularity of the KMUT payments, a fact corroborated by every woman interviewed as a beneficiary. These findings strongly underscore the program’s effective reach to the most deserving and marginalized communities across Tamil Nadu.
Insights into the Naan Mudhalvan Scheme
The ‘Evaluation of Naan Mudhalvan Scheme’ report revealed a positive boost in employability confidence among students throughout the state. A significant 76% of engineering students and 81% of polytechnic students reported enhanced job prospects, attributing this improvement to the program’s success in equipping them with vital practical skills for various career paths.
This evaluation was based on a robust sample, focusing on popular courses such as civil, mechanical, electronics, electrical, and computer science. It spanned 55 engineering colleges and 72 polytechnic colleges across 19 districts, gathering feedback from 3,950 engineering students and 5,059 polytechnic students.
The scheme effectively prepares students for the job market, with approximately 61% of engineering and 71% of polytechnic students acquiring digital certificates. These certificates significantly boost their visibility on job portals and professional networking platforms. Overall, the program has demonstrably improved placement readiness, led to concrete internship and job placements, and fostered equitable skill development across diverse regions.
However, the report also highlighted several operational challenges. For instance, institutions unable to meet the minimum 60-student enrollment threshold required students to commute to designated ‘hub’ institutions. Other challenges included the need for enhanced trainer capacity, improved data connectivity for the program’s online portal, and better scheduling to alleviate logistical difficulties.
To address these issues, the report provided a series of recommendations: strengthening trainer capabilities and course delivery, upgrading digital infrastructure and internet connectivity, expanding practical training and resource accessibility, streamlining coordination and scheduling processes, establishing Industry 4.0 centers, and integrating artificial intelligence into the curriculum.
A press release further indicated that the proposed draft housing policy aims to tackle the critical need for sustainable, inclusive, and affordable housing in both rural and urban areas of Tamil Nadu. Details of these policies remain confidential drafts until officially endorsed and released by the relevant departments.