Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu on Friday presented the fifth Budget of the DMK government for 2025-26, unveiling major welfare schemes and infrastructure projects. The Budget session witnessed protests from the Opposition, but Thennarasu emphasized that the financial plan was drafted with a vision for the next 25 years.
Key Announcements
- One Lakh New Houses Under ‘Kalaignar Kanavu Illam Thittam’
The government will construct one lakh houses at a cost of ₹3,500 crore to provide affordable housing across the state. - ₹1,500 Crore Adyar River Restoration Project
The restoration project is progressing steadily and is expected to be completed in the next 15 months. - ₹6,668 Crore Drinking Water Projects
New combined water supply projects will be launched in seven districts, benefiting nearly 29.74 lakh people. - Expansion of ‘Thozhi’ Hostels for Working Women
The government will construct 10 new hostels for working women at a cost of ₹77 crore, accommodating 800 beneficiaries. - ₹275 Crore for Student Hostels
The state has allocated ₹275 crore to develop hostels for students in Chennai, Coimbatore, and Madurai. - Chess to be Included in School Curriculum
The physical education syllabus will be revised to introduce chess as part of school education. - ‘Anbucholai’ Centers for Senior Citizens
The government will establish ‘Anbucholai’ centers in 25 districts to support the elderly. - World Tamil Olympiad to be Held Annually
To promote Tamil culture and language, the government announced the introduction of the World Tamil Olympiad with a prize of ₹1 crore.
Language Controversy Over Rupee Symbol
In a significant move, the Tamil Nadu government has replaced the Devanagari Rupee (₹) symbol with the Tamil letter 'Ru' (ரு) in its official Budget 2025-26 logo. The decision is seen as a continuation of Tamil Nadu’s opposition to Hindi imposition and has sparked a fresh debate on language identity.
The Indian rupee symbol, which was adopted in 2010, was designed by IIT Guwahati Professor D. Udaya Kumar, the son of former DMK MLA N Dharmalingam. The change in the budget logo is being viewed as a symbolic assertion of Tamil linguistic pride.
