TN to introduce 163 new courses in Arts and Science colleges

As part of her government's effort to give a boost to the Higher Education sector, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today proposed introducing 163 new courses in Arts and Science colleges in the state this year.
This will include 62 M.Phil and 52 Ph.D courses besides those in UG and PG streams, she informed the Tamil Nadu Assembly.
Jayalalithaa said that since taking over in 2011, her government had introduced 797 new courses, which had attracted more students and resulting in Gross Enrolment Ratio reaching 38.2 per cent.
Making a number of announcements in the Higher education department, she proposed filling up of over 1100 teaching vacancies in various government colleges through Teachers' Recruitment Board.

Further, a premier teachers' training institute located in Chennai will be moved to a sprawling premises near the city at Karappakkam and a building will be constructed at a cost of Rs 95 crore for this purpose, she said.
Her other announcements included fund allocation to premier educational institutions including Anna University towards upgrading infrastructure and a new Arts and Science college at Mayiladuthurai.

Further, she proposed 300 "Amma" Amudam Supermarkets across the state at an estimated cost of Rs 37.17 crore. Jayalalithaa is addressed as "Amma" (Mother) by her supporters.
She also announced setting up 39 godowns with a capacity of 84,500 metric tonnes at a cost of Rs 112.57 crore. This will enhance the food storage capacity of the government to 8.36 lakh metric tonnes, she said.

Jayalalithaa said that her government will construct 100 direct paddy procurement centres, 75 in Cauvery irrigated areas and 25 elsewhere, to benefit the farmers. The government will spend Rs 35 crore for this purpose.