Monthly food allowance of SC/ST hostel students to be increased: Tamil Nadu Social Justice Minister

Tamil Nadu's Social Justice Minister Vanni Arasu announced on Thursday (August 27, 2026) that the monthly food allowance for students in SC and ST hostels will be increased from ₹1,400 to ₹1,800, while for college students it will be raised from ₹1,500 to ₹2,000. The state government has allocated ₹200 crore for this initiative.

Additionally, the annual maintenance allowance for school hostels will be raised from ₹50,000 to ₹75,000, and for college hostels from ₹50,000 to ₹1 lakh. To support SC and ST students in pursuing education, 150 Social Justice hostels will be constructed at an estimated cost of ₹160 crore. In areas with a high concentration of SC population, 100 community halls will be built to host social functions.

A Tribal Culture Centre will be established in Chennai to preserve and promote tribal art, culture, and heritage. Libraries named after Dr. B.R. Ambedkar will be set up in schools and college hostels. A Social Justice Welfare Board and a Social Justice Foundation will be created to assist SCs and promote their social and economic development.

Eco-friendly Poompozhil accommodation facilities will be built in hilly areas near tribal settlements to enable visitors to experience the region's natural resources. Efforts will be made to obtain Geographical Indication (GI) tags for unique products of SC and ST communities to protect their distinctiveness.