Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has announced the allocation of Rs 6.5 crore as equity investment from the Tamil Nadu Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribes Startup Fund, on Wednesday. This funding was granted to five startups helmed by entrepreneurs from the SC/ST communities during a Chennai-based event. Sanction orders were given to investors in electronics manufacturing, agri tech, healthcare, and food/agriculture. These startup companies are located in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Perambalur, and Kanniyakumari districts. Among them, two startups are managed by ST community members, with one being solely operated by tribal women.
Among the five companies, Ecopmin Technologies Pvt Ltd stands at Rs 3 crore, specializing in manufacturing and trading, specifically catering to the Electronic Manufacturing Service (EMS) industry by providing essential consumables. Following this, Adhiban Farms Pvt Ltd values at Rs 2.2 crore, dedicated to producing eggs as functional foods, sourced ethically from well-raised hens. COEO Wellness Pvt Ltd, valued at Rs 60 lakh, operates in the market by retailing bamboo toothbrushes manufactured through third-party collaborations. Mannvasanai Traditional Food Pvt Ltd, at Rs 45 lakh, focuses on the entire cycle of acquiring, processing, and producing millet and traditional rice items. Lastly, Nanjil Nadu Kani Tribal Women Creations Pvt Ltd holds a value of Rs 25 lakh, hailing from Kanniyakumari and uniquely driven by tribal women, engaging in various creation ventures.
So far, the government has allocated sanction orders totaling Rs 34.6 crore to aid 26 startups, fostering increased credibility and enabling their outreach to new clientele and markets. StartupTN extends mentorship and ongoing support post-investment, streamlining their path toward achieving objectives more effectively. In addition, via video conference, Mr Stalin has inaugurated school buildings, hostels, and community halls constructed across diverse locations, amounting to a collective expense of Rs 32.95 crore. Furthermore, he has also initiated the groundwork for upcoming hostels and classrooms, with an estimated total cost of Rs 138 crore.
During the event, chief minister MK Stalin has talked extensively about the various programs aimed at helping the SCs/STs in the state. “I have devoted myself to building a Tamil Nadu based on social justice, equality, and brotherhood. This government is designing a scheme to ensure everything for everyone. We strive for uplifting the SCs/STs in all spheres – socio-economic and educational aspects.” He has further said, “We have to establish an egalitarian society only through such sustained works. The government can ensure the growth of these communities in other spheres by allocation of funds, and visionary schemes and by monitoring their implementation. But social growth and changes in the mindset of people should blossom. Our journey towards that will continue,” Mr Stalin has added.
Minister for Municipal Administration K N Nehru; Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises TM Anbarasan; Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments PK Sekarbabu; Minister for Labour Welfare and Skill Development CV Ganesan; Minister for Adi Dravidar Welfare N Kayalvizhi Selvaraj; Chief Secretary Shiv Das Meena; Secretary to Government, Adi Dravidar Welfare Department G Laxmi Priya; Chairman of Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar Housing Development Corporation (TAHDCO) U Mathivanan; StartupTN Mission Director and CEO Sivarajah Ramanathan and other higher officials were present at the event.
