New college in Chennai to benefit women from minority communities: Tamil Nadu Minister

Tamil Nadu Minister for Minorities Welfare A.M. Shahjahan on Thursday (August 27, 2026) announced in the Assembly that the State government would establish, through the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board, a new women’s college in Chennai at a cost of ₹2.45 crore for the benefit of girl students from religious minority communities.

Making announcements for the Department of Minorities Welfare, Mr. Shahjahan said to enable Muslim girl students to pursue higher education, a new scheme would be launched under which the State government would bear the tuition fees for undergraduate courses for students admitted under the government quota in government, government-aided, and self-financing colleges. An allocation of ₹20 crore had been made for this year, he said.

To encourage the education of Muslim girl children, educational assistance of ₹1,000 per year was being provided through the Waqf Board to students studying in Classes 1 to 8. The scheme would now be extended to Muslim girl students studying in Classes 9 and 10, who would receive educational assistance of ₹2,000 per year. A total of 41,384 Muslim girl students would benefit from the scheme, for which ₹8.28 crore had been allocated, he said.

The Minister said to enable members of minority communities to undergo skill development training and improve their livelihoods, the Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation would provide training in various fields, including information technology, automobile, apparel designing, beauty and wellness, embroidery and agriculture, across all districts. Training would be provided to 2,500 persons annually, benefiting a total of 10,000 persons over four years, he said.

To facilitate the conduct of family functions, public events, and official programmes at affordable rents, community halls would be constructed in Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Tenkasi, Thoothukudi, and Krishnagiri districts at an estimated cost of ₹10 crore, Mr. Shahjahan said.

To ensure all welfare schemes and assistance provided by the government reach members of minority communities promptly, posts of District Minority Welfare Officers would be newly created in 10 districts at a cost of ₹4.45 crore.

A grant of ₹10 crore would be provided during the current financial year for the conservation and renovation of ancient churches without altering their heritage character. A new building would be constructed for the Tamil Nadu Waqf Board headquarters at a cost of ₹40 crore.

Minister for Backward Classes Welfare V. Sampath Kumar, while making announcements for the Department of Backward Classes and Most Backward Classes Welfare, said for the social, educational and economic advancement of the Most Backward Classes (MBC), a dedicated MBC Welfare Board would be established at a cost of ₹3 crore.

He said eligible persons belonging to the Most Backward Classes would be registered as members of the Board. Registered members would be provided various welfare assistance and benefits similar to those extended by other occupational welfare boards.

The Minister also announced inverters, air-conditioners, refrigerators, and water purifiers would be provided to 970 Social Justice hostels. An amount of ₹25.76 crore had been allocated for this purpose. Spoken English training and learning materials would be provided through the Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation to around 34,000 students studying in Classes 9 to 12 in the school hostels.