TN This Week: Breakfast Scheme Extended Across State; 10 Die in Fire in Train Coach

Amid opposition to the Tamil Nadu Land Consolidation (for Special Projects) Bill, 2023, which was passed by the state government, Governor RN Ravi accorded his consent following which a gazette notification was issued on Saturday.

At least 10 persons died after a fire broke out inside a stationary train compartment in Madurai railway station in the wee hours of Saturday. The Southern Railway has announced ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the kin of the deceased.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Friday launched the second phase of the ‘CM's Breakfast’ scheme in government schools across the state. Inaugurating the programme in Nagapattinam district, Stalin shared a meal with a group of students at Panchayat Union Middle School in Thirukkuvalai. 

The ruling DMK held a state-wide hunger strike demanding the abolition of the National Entrance-cum-Eligibility Test (NEET). The agitation was headed by Tamil Nadu minister and the party’s youth wing chief Udhayanidhi Stalin who slammed Governor Ravi over the latter’s refusal to clear the bill banning NEET in the state and called him “RSS Ravi.”

Thirty members of the Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (TPDK) and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) were detained by the police in Coimbatore on Thursday. The protesters waved black flags to show objection to the presence of Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi, who had come to participate in the convocation ceremony at Bharathiar University.

The Federation of Bar Associations in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are protesting for the immediate withdrawal of three Bills stating ‘Hindi domination’. The Bills Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, and the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023, are set to replace the Indian Penal Code, 1860, Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, and Indian Evidence Act, 1872 respectively.

Observing that one has to face consequences for abusive and vulgar posts on social media and an apology would not suffice to waive criminal proceedings, the Supreme Court on Friday refused to quash the trial against actor and former Tamil Nadu MLA S Ve Shekher for sharing a post which made indecent remarks against women journalists. The court dismissed the petition filed by him.

The Karnataka government on Thursday opposed Tamil Nadu government’s plea in the Supreme Court for release of 24,000 cusecs per day of Cauvery river water from its reservoirs, terming the DMK government’s application “wholly misconceived” since the state suffered from a distressed water year due to the failure of South-west monsoon.

In just the five days since the Tamil month of Aadi came to an end, officials in four North Arcot districts have stopped 41 child marriages. Marriages are considered inauspicious among Tamils during Aadi month, which ended on August 17.

To “stop land grabbing and bring in more transparency in land deals,” the revenue department of Tamil Nadu decided to give landowners the option to link their Aadhaar numbers with their patta documents. However, the agriculture workers’ union (AIAWU) has opposed the move stating it goes against people who are struggling to get house-sight pattas. Read more

NewsClick brings you a round-up of the important developments from across the state in the past week. 

AUTO DRIVERS HOLD PROTEST

On Friday, a statewide protest was held to protect the livelihood of auto-rickshaw drivers. Thousands of drivers participated in the protest demanding that the state to increase the metre charges, which were last raised in 2013. 

At a rally held in central Chennai. Image courtesy: CITU, Tamil Nadu.

They also demanded that the state run the application for autos and taxis, and not leave it to private players like Ola and Uber who are profit-driven.

STREETSIDE VENDORS' PROTEST

Streetside vendors held protests in district headquarters across Tamil Nadu. The demonstrations were held to emphasise demands such as full implementation of the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 and the election promise of interest-free loan of Rs 15,000 by co-operative bank. They also insisted the state to abandon the illegal and forced eviction of street vendors and to immediately issue identity cards.

HC ON JAGGI LAND GRAB CASE

Nearly six years after the Tamil Nadu Tribal Peoples Association petition, the Madras High Court has sought an inquiry into whether Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev’s Isha Foundation had the necessary permissions to carry out certain constructions on its campus in Coimbatore. The court has also told the district town and country planning department to take appropriate action if illegalities are found.