Tamil Nadu highlights impact of women empowerment programmes on education and employment

The Tamil Nadu government highlighted several schemes under the Dravidian model governance framework to increase women’s participation in education and the workforce. The schemes include Vidiyal Vayagam, Kamalnagar Women’s Rights Scheme, Pudhumai Sabhan, and Naan Mudhalin.

The schemes provide financial support, career guidance, and skill development opportunities to girls and young women. The Pudhumai Penn Scheme supports thousands of college students, helping them continue their higher education without financial barriers.

The Nan Mudhalvan Scheme focuses on building career readiness, providing training and mentorship to enable women to enter diverse professional sectors. Vidiyal Payanam, described as a comprehensive empowerment programme, seeks to combine education, skill development, and economic independence initiatives.

“Since the Dravidian Model government assumed office in 2021, schemes like Vidiyal Payanam, Kalaignar Women’s Rights Scheme, Pudhumai Penn Scheme, and Women Entrepreneur Development Initiatives have been introduced to ensure women’s empowerment and social-economic freedom,” the press release said.

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According to the official press release, women make up 41.4% of Tamil Nadu’s workforce across industries and services. The state also produces around 25,000 elevators annually, accounting for one in every three units manufactured in India, with women playing a significant role in this sector.

State Reservation Policies for Women

Under state reservation policies, 30% of positions in government education services and 33% in local governance are allocated to women. These quotas were later increased to 50% in certain sectors. Tamil Nadu had granted voting rights to women in 1921, earlier than most other Indian states.

Officials note that Tamil Nadu’s education and skill-based empowerment programmes for women serve as a model for other states, highlighting the impact of targeted financial assistance, training, and safety measures in enabling women to pursue higher education and career opportunities successfully.