Health:

• Healthcare sector in India comprises of hospitals, medical devices, clinical trials, outsourcing, telemedicine, medical tourism, health insurance, and medical equipment.
• The government, or public healthcare system, concentrates on establishing primary healthcare centers (PHCs) in rural areas while maintaining a small number of secondary and tertiary care facilities in major cities.
• The bulk of secondary, tertiary, and quaternary care facilities are run by the private sector, with a focus on metropolises and tier-I and tier-II cities.

Demographic Indicators of Tamil Nadu

• Total Fertility Rate (2020 – SRS) – 1.4
• Natural Growth Rate (2020 – SRS)- 0.77 % Annually
• Crude Birth Rate (2020 – SRS) – 13.8 /1,000 Population
• Crude Death Rate (2020 – SRS) – 6.1 / 1,000 Population
• Maternal Mortality Ratio (2018-2020 – SRS) – 54 / 1,00,000 Live Births
• Infant Mortality Rate (2020 – SRS) – 13 /1,000 Live Births
• Tamil Nadu established a number of institutions which have emerged as a role model for similar institutions across India.
• Various Directorates, Boards and Corporations functioning under the administrative control of Health and Family Welfare Department are as follows:
• Directorate of Medical Education – responsible for providing medical education and tertiary care.
• Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services – responsible for providing secondary care and implementing various Acts and Regulation.
• Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine – responsible for providing primary health care and public health.
• The DIMH implements the policies, laws, regulations and programmes formulated by the Government of Tamil Nadu with the aim to improve the delivery of health care through the Indian Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy (ISMH) and development of medical education.
• The main objectives of DIMH are to provide Siddha and other Indian Systems of Medicine and Homoeopathy medical facility at all levels of health care system viz., Primary, Secondary and Tertiary, improve ISMH medical education in both public and private sector and encourage ISMH research and bring its services under the main stream.
• Directorate of Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy – responsible for providing AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) medical education and its services.

State AYUSH Society:

• “State AYUSH Society – Tamil Nadu” was formed to implement the schemes sanctioned to the State under the National AYUSH Mission Scheme.
• The approved schemes are implemented by the State AYUSH Society – Tamil Nadu out of the funds received from the Union and State Governments

Directorate of Family Welfare

• Implements family planning related initiatives.

Commissionerate of Food Safety and Drugs Control

• Focusing on food safety, determination of quality and drugs control administration through two different wings.
• In Tamil Nadu, Six Food Analytical Laboratories located at Chennai, Thanjavur, Madurai, Tirunelveli (Palayamkottai), Salem and Coimbatore

Directorate of State Health Transport

• Tamil Nadu State Health Transport Department was established in 1981 as a separate Directorate for the exclusive maintenance of Health and Family Welfare Department vehicles.
• This Department plays a pertinent role in the background in the successful implementation of Health Care Programmes by ensuring the uninterrupted mobility of Health Department vehicles
• Responsible for maintenance and upkeep of the vehicles of the various Directorates under Health and Family Welfare Department.

Medical Services Recruitment Board (MRB)

• The Medical Services Recruitment Board was established in the year 2012, for selection of suitable personnel for the Health and Family Welfare Department.
• Responsible for the recruitment of personnel for various cadres in Health and Family Welfare department in a speedy and transparent manner.

Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation (TNMSC)

• The Tamil Nadu Medical Service Corporation Limited (TNMSC) was incorporated as a Government Company fully owned by the Government of Tamil Nadu under the Companies Act on 01.07.1994.
• To streamline the drugs and equipment procurements, supply and maintenance to all the Government Medical Institutions.
• Its main mandate was to supply quality medicines to patients accessing public health facilities without any interruption.

Tamil Nadu Medicinal Plant Farms and Herbal Medicine Corporation Limited (TAMPCOL)

• To manufacture medicines for use under the Indian Systems of Medicine and distribution to all the Medical Institutions.
• With the main objective of manufacturing and supplying of Siddha, Ayurveda and Unani medicines.

Tamil Nadu State Medicinal Plants Board (TNSMPB)

• Tamil Nadu State Medicinal Plants Board was formed and registered, Dated 26.10.2009.
• The main objective of this board is to formally submit the project proposals of the government, private and non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) registered as members of this board and get the grant from the Central Government, National Medicinal Plants Board.

Tamil Nadu State Aids Control Society

• Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society was constituted on 22.04.1994 to implement HIV/AIDS control and prevention activities as per the guidelines of National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) funded by National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO).
• The district level programme of Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society (TANSACS) is implemented and monitored by the respective District AIDS Prevention and Control Unit (DAPCU).

Tamil Nadu State Blindness Control Society

• Tamil Nadu State Blindness Control Society and the 38 District Blindness Control Societies together form a vertical programme under National Health Mission Tamil Nadu, for implementing the activities of National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual impairment programme in our state towards achieving prevalence of blindness below 0.25 by the year 2025.

Councils:

• The following councils have been established through various Acts of Government of India and Government of Tamil Nadu to register the qualified medical, nursing and paramedical professionals to regulate their practice in Tamil Nadu:
• Tamil Nadu Medical Council
• Tamil Nadu Dental Council
• Tamil Nadu Nurses and Midwives Council
• Tamil Nadu Pharmacy Council
• Tamil Nadu Siddha Medical Council (Siddha and Traditional Practitioners)
• Board of Indian Medicine (Ayurveda, Unani and Yoga & Naturopathy)
• Tamil Nadu Homoeopathy Council
• Tamil Nadu State Council for Physiotherapy

Classification of Hospitals and Dispensaries:

State–Public Medical Institutions:

• While 8,713 Health Sub Centres are catering to an average 5,000 population, 1,830 PHCs are catering to an average population of 30,000 at the next level.
• Above the primary health care institutions, there are secondary and tertiary care hospitals in the State.
• In addition, 487 Urban Primary Health Centres across the urban areas in the State including Chennai Corporation and 15 Community Health Centres in Chennai Corporation are also functional.
• There are 256 Taluk and Non-Taluk Hospitals, 37 District Headquarter Hospitals and 62 hospitals attached to 36 Government Medical Colleges.

State–Special Medical Institutions:

• Institutions intended to serve the public which are including Police Department, State owned Corporations / Undertakings, Employees State Insurance Medical Institutions, etc. which include 10 ESI Hospitals and 235 ESI dispensaries.

Medical Institutions under the Local Bodies:

• Medical Institutions which are under the management of Corporations and Municipalities are covered under this classification.
• Urban Primary Health Centres and Urban Community Health Centres have now been established to cater to the primary health care of the urban population.

Government Aided Private Medical Institutions:

• Institutions supported / guaranteed by private contribution and receiving Government aid.

Non-Aided Private Medical Institutions:

• All hospitals, dispensaries and clinics solely managed by private persons / establishments.

Medical Education

• The Directorate of Medical Education was formed in the year 1966 from the Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services and is functioning as an independent Directorate.

• Total No of M.B.B.S Government Colleges – 36 / Seats – 5,050
• Self Financing Medical College – 19 / Seats – 3,050
• ESIC, K.K.Nagar- 125
• Private Universities (2)- 300

New Multi Super Speciality Hospital in South Chennai:

National Health Mission / State Health Society – Tamil Nadu

• The National Health Mission (NHM) was established in 2005 with the objective of enhancing the overall health and healthcare delivery system in the country.
• The mission prioritizes providing comprehensive and accessible healthcare to all citizens, especially those living in rural and urban areas.
• It was initially launched as the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and later expanded to include urban areas as the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) in 2013.
• The funding for the mission is shared by the Union Government and State Governments.
• The vision is to provide universal access to equitable, affordable and quality health care services which is accountable at the same time responding to the needs of the people.

District Health Society:

• At the district level, the National Health Mission is managed by the District Health Society (DHS), with the District Collector as the Chairperson.
• Societies for various National Health Programme have been consolidated under the DHS, which has a Governing Body.
• The DHS is responsible for planning and managing all NHM programmes in the district and it oversees the implementation of NHM objectives through the District Programme Management Unit (DPMU) and Block Programme Management Unit (BPMU) in each block.

Medical and Rural Health Services

• The Director of Medical and Rural Health Services is incharge of secondary care services in Tamil Nadu.
• 37 District Headquarters Hospitals, 198 Taluk Hospitals, 58 Non – Taluk Hospitals, 7 Women and Children Hospitals, 11 Dispensaries, 2 Tuberculosis Hospitals, 6 Leprosy Hospitals and 1 Rehabilitation Institution cum Hospital.
• The Taluk and Non-Taluk Hospitals are the First Referral Units and the District Headquarters Hospitals serve as a secondary care referral unit.
• 93 Comprehensive Emergency Obstetrics and Newborn Care (CEmONC) units, 110 Newborn Stabilization Units (NBSUs) and 38 Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) are providing Maternal and Child Health Services.
• Through 47 Tamil Nadu Accident and Emergency Care Initiative (TAEI) Centres, Emergency Services are provided.

District Mental Health Programme (DMHP)

• The District Mental Health Programme is a community-based programme successfully implemented in the State.
• To create awareness regarding mental health in the community.
• To integrate and implement mental health services through all the wings of the Health and Family Welfare Department.
• To facilitate the early detection and treatment of the patient within the community itself.

De-Addiction center:

• Considering the steep increase of addiction related social and health issues, De-Addiction Centres have been established in Kancheepuram and Cuddalore under the control of Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services.
• In Tiruppur District, the De-addiction centre is functioning under the control of Directorate of Medical Education.

Public Health and Preventive Medicine

• In 1923, Government formed a separate Directorate exclusively for Public Health and named as The Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, which makes Tamil Nadu, the first State to have a separate Directorate for Public Health.
• The Department’s objective is to prevent disease, prolong life and promote health through organized measures.
• The prime functions of Public Health department include health promotion through healthy behaviour, prevention and control of Communicable and Noncommunicable diseases, provision of community based Maternity and Child Health Services including Immunization and Family Welfare Services.

Primary Health Care:

Rural Primary Health Centres:

• In Tamil Nadu 1830 Primary Health Centres are functioning in 388 Blocks for curative and preventive health care services to the rural people.
• 24×7 delivery care services are provided in 1,776 Primary Health Centres.

Urban Primary Health Centres:

• During 2012-2013 Government had issued orders for the establishment of 135 Urban Primary Health Centres in small urban areas of Tamil Nadu under the administrative control of Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine.
• Total No of Urban Primary Health Centres -347

Urban Health and Wellness Centre:

• During the year 2023-2024, 708 Urban Health and Wellness Centres will be established at slums and middle income group dwelling urban areas with Human Resources of Medical Officer, Staff Nurse, Multipurpose Health Worker.

Health Sub Centre (HSC):

• The Health Sub Centre are the first meeting point of the general public with the health personnel.
• Being the first contact point HSC is established in the Plain rural areas for every 5,000 population and in Hilly areas for every 3,000 population.
• Each HSC is manned with one Village Health Nurse and three HSCs are manned with one Health Inspector (Grade II).
• In Tamil Nadu, there are 8,713 HSCs, which caters the need of the public.

Legislations

Transplantation of Human Organs (Amendment) Act, 2011:

• The Human Organs Transplantation Act was enacted by the Government of India in 1994 and subsequently amended in 2011.
• This Act is adopted and implemented in State of Tamil Nadu.
• The objective of the Act is eradication of organ trade.
• Transplantation services in the State have been divided into four zones as follows and organ donations from cadaver arising in a zone are allocated within that zone first.
• North Zone – Chennai, Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram, Thiruvallur and Vellore
• South Zone – Trichy, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Nagercoil, Thanjavur and Perambalur
• West Zone – Coimbatore, Erode, Salem

Pre–Conception and Pre–Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994:

• In order to prevent Sex determination, the Government of India enacted the Pre–Conception and Pre–Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994, to eradicate female foeticide and for maintaining the high level juvenile sex ratio (0-6 years) and male and female ratio.
• State, District and Taluk level Advisory Committee have been formed for effective implementation of the scheme.

The Tamil Nadu Private Clinical Establishment (Regulation) Amendment Act, 2018

• Tamil Nadu Private Clinical Establishment (Regulation) Act, 1997 was suitably amended by enactment of “The Tamil Nadu Private Clinical Establishments (Regulation) Act, 2018” so as to provide for registration and regulation of all clinical establishments in the State and to prescribe the minimum standards of facilities and services to be provided by them.
• 46,441 medical institutions have been registered under this Act.
• Further 1,536 number of Private Hospitals were empanelled to treat COVID-19 in Tamil Nadu.

Surrogacy (Regulation) Act, 2021, Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021 (ART)

• These Acts have been enacted by Government of India.
• Following the directions of the above mentioned Act, the Tamil Nadu Government has appointed State Appropriate Authority.

Tamil Nadu Public Health Act, 1939:

• Tamil Nadu is the first State in India to enact a law for Public Health.
• The Tamil Nadu Public Health Act, 1939 focuses on healthy environment, infectious disease control, food hygiene, Maternity and child health welfare.
• Emerging and re-emerging diseases, adolescent (and) old age problems, increasing environmental hazards such as ozone depletion, green house depletion, radiation, biodegradation, social change causing environmental hazards creates situation for amendment of the Act.
• The Government of Tamil Nadu announced certain regulations to prevent and control the spread of Covid-19 under the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897.

Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003:

• “Cigarettes and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, (COTPA) in 2003”
• The Act imposes progressive restriction on all tobacco products to reduce their demand and supply.
• The law is applicable to all tobacco products and extends to the whole of India.

Kalaignarin Varumun Kappom Thittam:

• This preventive Health Programme aimed to bring changes in wellness attitude and health seeking behaviour of the common people was launched way back in 1999.
• The same Scheme is now revived and revamped as “Kalaignarin Varumun Kappom Thittam”.
• Hon’ble Chief Minister on 29.09.2021 launched the scheme in Vazhapadi, Salem District.
• provides comprehensive health check-up, treatment and health education to the rural and urban people.
• In the Camps, Specialist Medical Experts from various specialization screen the beneficiaries for communicable and non-communicable diseases and treatment given for minor ailments at the camp site itself.

Kayakalp Award Scheme:

• The Prime Minister of India introduced the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan on 2nd October, 2014 to promote cleanliness in public space.
• Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, has launched a national initiative ‘Kayakalp’ on 15th May, 2015 to promote cleanliness and enhance the quality of public health facilities.

Dr.Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme (MRMBS):

• This Scheme was introduced by Muthamizh Arignar Dr.Kalaignar with a cash assistance of Rs.6,000/- to pregnant women of Below Poverty Line.
• It is implemented by the Government of Tamil Nadu, currently Rs.18,000/- per beneficiares payable in three instalments
• With a noble objective of providing assistance to poor pregnant women/mothers to meet expenses on nutritious diet, to compensate the loss of income during pregnancy, to avoid low birth weight of newborn babies and aimed at reducing IMR and MMR.

Maternal Nutrition Kit (MNK):

• Maternal Malnutrition and Anaemia in pregnancy is associated with high maternal morbidity and mortality.
• Maternal anaemia is associated with poor intra-uterine growth and birth of low-birthweight babies.
• ‘Maternal Nutrition Kit’ is distributed to all eligible pregnant women under Dr.Muthulakshmi Reddy Maternity Benefit Scheme.
• Two nutrition kit each worth of Rs.2,000/- for a total amount of Rs.4,000/- assistance is used for providing “Maternal Nutrition Kit” comprising of iron syrup and nutrition supplements to reduce anaemia among the pregnant women and improve the birth weight of infants.

Mother Baby Care Kit Scheme:

• Mother and Baby Care kit scheme is being implemented in all the Government Health sectors from 8th September 2015.
• Mother and Baby Care Kit contains 16 health care items which is provided to the mothers after delivery in Government Health facilities to improve the hygiene of the postnatal mothers for self and baby care.

Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and New Born Care Centres

• Tamil Nadu is the State having 99.9 percent of institutional delivery with nearly 60 percent of institutional deliveries occurring in Government health facilities.
• In order to provide emergency and quality ante-natal care as well as to provide improved access to skilled obstetric care, prioritized health care facilities have been strengthened as Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and New Born Care (CEmONC) by providing additional inputs such as human resource, equipment, civil works, training etc.
• 129 Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and New Born Care (CEmONC) Centres have been established till date in Medical College Hospitals, District Headquarters Hospitals and Taluk / Non-Taluk Hospitals.

Major initiatives under RMNCH + A:

• The National Health Mission continues to support the wide range of Reproductive and Child Health Services of the State, including institutional delivery, emergency obstetric care, safe abortions, family planning services and adolescent health services in the State.
• In addition to this, focus is given on universal coverage of Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child Health and Adolescent Health (RMNCH+A) services.

Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY):

• In order to promote institutional delivery, an amount of Rs.700/- in rural and Rs.600/- in urban areas is paid to all the mothers delivering in Government health institutions.

Janani Sishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK):

• Janani Sishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) entitles every pregnant women and sick neonate for free drugs, diagnostics and diet for the duration of their stay, free transport facility from home, inter facility transfer and transport facility back to home The scheme aims at reducing out of pocket expenses for pregnant women and sick neonates during delivery.
• This scheme has been extended to cover all ante-natal and post-natal complications and also for the sick infants.

Extended Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (e-PMSMA)

• This programme ensures quality antenatal care and high risk pregnancy detection in pregnant women on the 9th and 24th of every month, followed up by mentor obstetricians through real-time and virtual mentoring The State has been awarded “First Place” for implementation of Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) towards maximum identification of High Risk Mothers in the State.

LaQshya:

• In order to further accelerate decline in MMR in the coming years, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has launched ‘LaQshya – Labour room Quality improvement Initiative.
• LaQshya program is a focused and targeted approach to strengthen key processes related to the labour rooms and maternity operation theatres which aims at improving quality of care around birth and ensuring respectful Maternity Care.

Maternal Anaemia Control Programme under Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB)

• Under Anaemia Mukth Bharath scheme Iron and Folic acid supplementation is provided to Women in Reproductive age group, Pregnant and lactating mothers.
• If haemoglobin level is between 7.1 to 8.9 gm/dl (Moderate Anaemia) Injection Iron sucrose infusion is also provided.

Gestational Diabetes Control Programme:

• Universal screening of Antenatal mothers for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is being done to improve maternal and offspring prognosis.
• The current recommendation of Oral Glucose Challenge Test (OGCT) is performed as screening test.

Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK):

• RBSK is an ambitious initiative focusing on Child Health Screening and Early Intervention Services.
• The programme aims at early detection and management of 4 Ds (Defects, Deficiencies, Diseases, Developmental delays) among the children of age group 0-18 years.

Rashtriya Kishore Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK):

• The RKSK programme is implemented in 24 districts in the State.
• The main objective of the programme is to improve nutrition, enable sexual and reproductive health, enhance mental health, prevent injuries and violence, prevent substance abuse and address conditions for NCDs in the adolescent age groups.
• Under this programme, Adolescent Health (AH) strategy focuses on 10-19 years age group with universal coverage, i.e., males and females; urban and rural; in school and out of school; married and unmarried; and vulnerable and under-served

Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA):

• The Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) are given basic training in antenatal care, postnatal care, home based new born care, communicable and Non-Communicable diseases to improve their knowledge and conditions through which they impart awareness to their community where they serve.

Menstrual Hygiene Programme:

• With the Objective of Providing hygienic sanitary napkins and to increase awareness among adolescent girls on menstrual hygiene, the Menstrual Hygiene programme is being implemented in rural areas of Tamil Nadu since 27.3.2012.
• Under this scheme, Free Sanitary Napkins are being issued to Adolescent girls and post-natal mothers who delivered in Government health institutions, women prisoners, women inmates in Institute of Mental Health under the brand name ‘Pudhuyugam’.
• This Scheme has been extended to Adolescent Girls in the urban areas and Women inpatients in Government Institutions in the reproductive age group of 15-49 years in the Urban Areas.

BEmONC Services:

• The State provides Basic Emergency Obstetric Care (BEmOC) in all Primary Health Centre (PHC) by ensuring the presence of 24×7 staff nurses who are trained in maternal and child care.
• All the mothers who deliver at Government Primary Health Centre/Hospitals are advised to stay for 48 hours during their postnatal period.
• During their 48 hours of stay, the new born are provided with immunization services viz., Zero dose of Polio and Hepatitis B, BCG.

SUMAN- Zero Preventable deaths:

• “SUMAN – Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan” a multipronged and coordinated policy approach that subsumes all existing initiatives under one umbrella in order to create a comprehensive initiative which goes beyond entitlements and provides a service guarantee for the entitlements.

Palli Sirar Kannoli Kappom Thittam (KKT)

• Kannoli Kappom Thittam is being implemented from the year 2009 onwards to screen all the students studying in 6^th standard to 12^th standard in Government and Government aided Schools for refractive errors.

Training and Continuing Education Programme:

• Continuing education, in-service training and pre-service training programmes are organized for the Health Officers, Medical Officers, Nurses and other Paramedical staff through eight Regional Training Institutes (RTI) namely Institute of Public Health, Poonamallee, Health and Family.

Family Welfare Programme

• Family Welfare Programme was introduced in 1956 as people programme in our State.
• The main objective of the programme is to maintain the Total Fertility Rate to the extent necessary to stabilize the population at a consistent level.

Eat Right Campus:

• To promote safe, healthy and sustainable food in campuses such as schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, workplaces, tea estates etc., FSSAI issues a certificate “Eat Right Campus”.

Re-purpose Used Cooking Oil (RUCO):

• RUCO Programme is one of the FSSAI initiatives in Eat Right India Programme.
• This programme is successfully implemented in the State of Tamil Nadu from 2019.
• The main purpose of the programme is to prevent reuse of used cooking oil as this will increase transfat in the food.
• In this programme used cooking oil from FBOs are being collected by private agencies those registered with FSSAI at the rate of Rs.25-45 per litre for bio diesel conversion.

Kayakalp Award Programme:

• Kayakalp Award Programme is being implemented and monitored in all Government District Head Quarters Hospital, Sub district Hospital, Community Health Centres, Primary Health Centres, Urban Primary Health Centers and Health Sub-Centre level, Health and Wellness Centre with a view to improve the cleanliness standards every year as it is essential to keep all facilities clean and to ensure adherence to infection control practices.

Jan Arogya Samiti (JAS):

• Jan Arogya Samiti (JAS), under AB-HWC has been introduced to enable action for improvement in the availability and quality of facility infrastructure and services, and promote a culture of accountability amongst service providers in the Public Health system.
• The objective of implementing JAS is to institutionalize people’s participation in facility management to ensure quality service delivery to all members, plan and address social determinants of health, and resolve their grievances in seeking health care.

National Oral Health Programme:

• Oral Health is an integral part of general Health.
• With an objective to improve the Oral Health among the population of Tamil Nadu, 477 Dental units have been established in both Primary and Secondary Healthcare Institutions across the State

Pradhan Mandhri National Dialysis Programme:

Telemedicine / National Telemedicine Service:

• e-Sanjeevani enables virtual meetings between the patients and doctors & specialists from geographically dispersed locations, through video conferencing that occurs in real time.

Health Management Information System (HMIS):

Hospital Management System (HMS):

• Under this HMS, daily real-time data of patients, both outpatients and inpatients are being reported.
• This includes the line list of the patients, along with lab investigations and treatment details.

Population Health Registry (PHR):

• Population Health Registry (PHR), a Comprehensive Health Information Technology Platform has been established as a health initiative to transform Tamil Nadu into a digitally empowered society that provides affordable and accessible health care to all in a secure and reliable manner.
• PHR was rolled out in November 2021.
• The initiative was founded on the concept of providing a Unique Health Identification (UHID) number to all the citizens residing in the State for enabling data driven decision.

Tamil Nadu Health System Reform Program

• This program is supported by World Bank, and it is ‘P for R’ model programme i.e, Program for Result, by achieving the prefixed targets set by World Bank.
• The project period is for 5 years.
• This program also aims to achieve Sustainable Development Goals – 3 which is to ‘Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages’.

National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme

• The National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) delivers TB Care Services with a vision to achieve elimination of TB by the year 2025.
• The Tamil Nadu Government has launched “TB Free Tamil Nadu – 2025” Strategic document with emphasis on the 4 pillars namely “Detect – Treat – Build – Prevent” (DTBP).

Nikshay Poshan Yojana (NPY):

• In order to improve Nutritional status of TB patient, financial incentive of Rs.500/- per month is given to all notified TB patients through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) under Nikshay Poshan Yojana Scheme.

Tamil Nadu ‘Kasanoi Erapilla Thittam’ (TN-KET):

• In order to reduce the TB Mortality, a State specific Intervention of Differentiated TB Care Model, Kasa Noi Erapilla Thittam involves screening of every TB patient for severe illness at the time of diagnosis, followed by comprehensive assessment and appropriate inpatient care.

District Mental Health Programme (DMHP):

• The District Mental Health Program (DMHP) is a community level program currently implemented in all 38 Districts in Tamil Nadu.
• This includes implementation of DMHP in the 6 newly created districts during the financial year 2022-23.
• DMHP has been highly successful in providing mental healthcare to the community, reaching the unreached through the robust health infrastructure in Tamil Nadu.

MaNaM Thittam – Mana Nala Nallaatharavu Mandram:

• MANAM Thittam is an innovative program of Government of Tamil Nadu, implemented by National Health Mission – Tamil Nadu to give impetus to the mental health promotion services to students in Schools and Colleges.
• As part of MANAM Thittam, Mana Nala Nallaatharavu Mandram (Students Mental Health Support Forum) was inaugurated in all medical colleges across Tamil Nadu and up-scaled to all colleges and schools in Tamil Nadu.
• The primary objective is to promote mental health and wellbeing of students through awareness generation activities and training and wellbeing programs for the teachers and students on mental health promotion and wellbeing.

Natpudan Ungalodu Mana Nala Sevai – Tele-mental Health Service:

• Natpudan Ungalodu Mana Nala Sevai Telemental Health service was launched on 27.10.2022 with a dedicated Toll free Mental Health counselling helpline number 14416 at a cost of Rs.2,06,80,000/-.
• It is a 24 X 7 Counselling service provided by a dedicated team of 20 counsellors headed by Psychiatrist.

Tamil Nadu Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (TNIMHANS):

• The Government of Tamil Nadu has sanctioned a State-of-The-Art Institute for Mental Health and Neurosciences, namely, Tamil Nadu Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (TNIMHANS), a cutting edge initiative by strengthening and upgrading the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), Chennai into a Centre of Excellence (CoE) to provide comprehensive services in the areas of Mental Health, Neurology, Neurosurgery and Neuroscience Research besides serving as a teaching and training institution.

State Mental Health Authority:

• State Mental Health Authority is constituted as per Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 to regulate and coordinate the mental Health services in the State.

Communicable Diseases Management:

Immunization Programme:

• Immunization in Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu State is the front runner in implementing Health related activities particularly Vaccine Preventable Disease (VPD) are controlled by effective administration of Routine Immunization.
• Tamil Nadu has started the Expanded Programme Immunization (EPI) against Six Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPDs) in 1978 and further strengthened as Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) in 1985.
• Under the Universal Immunization Programme in Tamil Nadu, 11 Vaccines are being provided to children and pregnant mothers against the 12 Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPDs) namely Tuberculosis, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Hepatitis B, Hemophilus Influenza, Tetanus, Poliomyelitis, Measles, Rubella, Rota Virus, Pneumococcal and Japanese Encephalitis (in selected 14 endemic districts).

Special Immunization Programmes

Intensified Pulse Polio Immunization:

• With eradication of type–II of Wild Polio Virus, in order to eradicate the Polio Virus type-I, Government of India is conducting Intensified Pulse Polio Immunization as National Immunization Day every year.
• The State had attained a “Polio Free Status” in 2004 and for the past 19 years no case of Polio has been reported in the State.

Mission Indra Dhanush:

• The Mission Indra Dhanush programme started in December 2014 as a “Special drive” to vaccinate all unvaccinated and partially vaccinated children below two years and pregnant women.

Introduction of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV):

• In India, over 1.2 million children die before their 5th birthday.
• Nearly 15.9% deaths are due to pneumonia.
• In order to provide protection against the disease, Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine has been included in Routine Immunization for infants at 6^th, 14^th week and a booster dose at the age of 9 months.

National Vector Borne Diseases Control Programme:

• The Vector Borne diseases like Malaria, Filaria, Dengue/ Chikungunya, Japanese Encephalitis etc.,

National Viral Hepatitis Control Program:

• The National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme was launched in 2018 as an integrated programme with the aim to combat hepatitis and achieve country wide elimination of Hepatitis C by 2030, achieve significant reduction in the infected population, morbidity and mortality associated with Hepatitis B and C and reduce the risk, morbidity and mortality due to Hepatitis A and E.

Covid-19 Management and Vaccination National Mental Health Programme:

• The State has so far successfully tackled three waves of Covid-19 pandemic.
• First case of Covid-19 was reported in Kancheepuram district on 7th March 2020.
• First wave of Covid-19 witnessed 8,15,691 cases with a peak of 6,993 positive cases on 27th July, 2020.
• First Lockdown was implemented on 24th March, 2020.
• The Government of Tamil Nadu has established 24×7 State Emergency Operations Control Room (SEOCR) at the office of Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine on 14th March, 2020.
• The State has carried out effective contact tracing strict containment management, Airport Surveillance and clear-cut strategies from the beginning itself by focusing on aggressive testing, quarantine, effective patient management.

Non-Communicable Disease Prevention, Control and Treatment

• National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS).
• Under the programme, all people 30 years of age and older receive screening, treatment, and follow-up services for hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cervical cancer, and breast cancer.

Cardio Vascular Diseases (CVD) Prevention and Control Programme:

Prevention and Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus:

• Prevention and Treatment of Cervical Cancer
• Prevention and Treatment of Breast Cancer

National Program for Palliative Care (NPPC)

• The main goals of palliative care are to alleviate suffering and enhance the quality of life for both adults and children who are dealing with serious and terminal illnesses.

National Programme for Health Care of Elderly Program:

• As per Census 2011, 13.6% of Tamil Nadu population is above 60 years of age against the National average of 8.6%, thus becoming the Second State in India with highest share of elderly which stresses the importance of geriatric care in the State National Centre for Ageing, Chennai.

National Programme for Prevention and Control of Deafness:

• The objectives of National Programme for Prevention and Control of Deafness (NPPCD) is to prevent avoidable hearing loss, promote early diagnosis and treatment of ear problems responsible for hearing loss and to develop institutional capacity to provide ear care services.

National Leprosy Eradication Programme (NLEP)

• The programme is implemented by the State Government since 1955.

National Tobacco Control Program (NTCP)

• The National Tobacco Control Programme is implemented in Tamil Nadu and the State Tobacco Control Cell is functioning under the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine since 2007.
• All the Districts in the State are implementing Tobacco Control Activities as per Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003.

Banning of E-Cigarettes:

• One of the developments in Tobacco Control is banning of E- cigarettes in the State.
• As per the orders of the Government, the manufacture, sale (including online sale), distribution, trade, display, marketing, advertisement, use, import and possession of Electronic Nicotine Delivery systems (ENDS) in any form, is banned in Tamil Nadu and the same is being implemented effectively.

National Iodine Deficiency Disorder Control Programme (NIDDCP):

• Iodine is an essential micronutrient.
• It is required at 100-150 micrograms daily for normal human growth and development.
• It is essential for the synthesis of the thyroid hormones, Thyroxine (T4), Triiodothyronine (T3).

Health Insurance Scheme:

• The Government of Tamil Nadu launched the Chief Minister Kalaignar’s Insurance scheme for life saving treatments on 23.07.2009 to ensure that poor and low income group families who cannot afford costly treatment, are able to get cashless treatment in Government as well as private hospitals for serious ailments.
• Under this scheme, each beneficiary family was insured for availing free treatment upto Rs.1 lakh, and the Government paid the entire premium for this purpose.
• 34 crore beneficiary families in the State were covered initially under this revolutionary scheme.
• Government of India’s Health insurance scheme Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) has been integrated with Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme from 23.09.2018 extending benefits to 86.70 lakh families from Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) data.
• At present, 1,760 hospitals (810 Government Hospitals and 950 Private Hospitals) are empanelled under the scheme.
• All the beneficiary families get health coverage upto Rs.5 lakh per year / per family.

Tamil Nadu Accident and Emergency Care Initiative and ‘108’ Emergency Care Services

• Tamil Nadu Accident and Emergency Care Initiative (TAEI) has revolutionized the concept of Emergency Medical Care in Tamil Nadu and the state has become the role model for the rest of the country.
• Apart from bringing in ‘State of the Art’ protocols to practice, TAEI has ensured total face lift of the Government Health Care delivery system, making Tamil Nadu a model for other States
• Tamil Nadu has converted the erstwhile casualty wing into Emergency Department with requisite manpower and infrastructure so as to become eligible by NMC standards to commence new postgraduate course in MD – Emergency Medicine, which is the first of its kind in India.
• NMC has since made Emergency Department mandatory for starting of new Medical Colleges in the country.

Anaivarukkum Nalavazhvu Thittam (UHC)

• Tamil Nadu is committed to providing Universal Healthcare for all by 2030, which is also fundamental for achieving other Sustainable Development Goals.
• The Tamil Nadu Government implemented the UHC program in 2017 and was integrated with the State’s flagship scheme named “Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam” (MTM).
• The Tamil Nadu-Universal Health Coverage Strategy, Towards an Equity-based Service Delivery system.
• By 2030, the Nation shall ensure universal access to high quality, effective and affordable healthcare to all, minimizing incidence and mortality from communicable, non-communicable and lifestyle diseases.
• NITI Aayog is the nodal agency for the implementation of SDGs in India.
• The achievement of the SDG (Goal-3) targets for India is translated into an Indicator Framework consisting of National and State Indicators.
• As per the Sustainable Development Goals India Index 2020-21-Report prepared by the NITI Aayog, Tamil Nadu has been ranked second with a score of 74 and obtained the third position with a score of 81 in the Goal 3.

SDG 3 Major Indicators:

Targets and Achievements:

Demographic Indicators:

• Total Fertility Rate (2020 – SRS) – 1.4
• Natural Growth Rate (2020 – SRS)- 0.77 % Annually
• Crude Birth Rate (2020 – SRS) – 13.8 /1,000 Population
• Crude Death Rate (2020 – SRS) – 6.1 / 1,000 Population
• Maternal Mortality Ratio (2018-2020 – SRS) – 54 / 1,00,000 Live Births
• Infant Mortality Rate (2020 – SRS) – 13 /1,000 Live Births

Preferential reservation of 7.5% of Government Medical Seats for students studied in Government Schools:

• As per the recommendations of the Commission, constituted by the State Government under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble Justice P. Kalaiyarasan (Retired), “Tamil Nadu Admission to Undergraduate Courses in Medicine, Dentistry, Indian Medicine and Homeopathy on preferential basis to students of Government Schools Act, 2020, (Tamil Nadu Act No.34 of 2020)” making reservation of 7.5% Government seats to enable the students studied in Government Schools who are qualified in NEET to get admission in Medical Courses
• 465 MBBS seats, 119 BDS seats and 81 Siddha, Ayurveda and Homeopathy seats were allotted to the Government school students.
• Considering the poor economic status of the said students, Revolving Fund has been created with Rs.16 crore to enable payment of all types of essential fees and hostel fees for the students who have got admission under the 7.5% preferential allotment of seats in MBBS / BDS Course.

Government initiatives

• Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY)
• National Health Mission
• Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY)
• Pradhan Mantri-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) to strengthen India’s health infrastructure and improve the country’s primary, secondary and tertiary care services.
• Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission to connect the digital health solutions of hospitals across the country.
• Under this, every citizen will now get a digital health ID and their health record will be digitally protected.
• PM-JAY is the world’s largest health insurance/ assurance scheme fully financed by the government.
• Launched in February 2018, it offers a sum insured of Rs.5 lakh per family for secondary care
• NITI Aayog has released the fourth edition of the State Health Index for 2019–20.

Larger States:

• In terms of annual incremental performance, Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Telangana are the top three ranking states.

Smaller States:

• Mizoram and Meghalaya registered the maximum annual incremental progress.

Union Territories:

• Delhi, followed by Jammu and Kashmir, showed the best incremental performance.
• The top-ranking states were Kerala and Tamil Nadu among the ‘Larger States’, Mizoram and Tripura among the ‘Smaller States’, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu (DH&DD) and Chandigarh among the UTs
• The 5^th National Family Health Survey 2019-21 reports 35.5% of children under 5 are stunted, 19.3% are wasted, and 32.1% are underweight.
• Meghalaya has the highest number of stunted children (46.5%), followed by Bihar (42.9%).
• Maharashtra (25.6%) has the highest percentage of wasted children followed by Gujarat (25.1%).
• Compared with NFHS-4, the prevalence of overweight or obesity has increased in most States/UTs in NFHS-5.

POSHAN Abhiyaan:

• The government of India has launched the National Nutrition Mission (NNM) or POSHAN Abhiyaan to ensure a “Malnutrition Free India” by 2022.
• Eat Right India and Fit India Movement are some other initiatives to promote healthy eating and healthy lifestyle.
• The National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013: It aims to ensure food and nutrition security for the most vulnerables through its associated schemes and programmes, making access to food a legal right.

IMR in India

• The IMR in India stands at 33 per 1000 live births.
• The IMR of India is poor as compared to China (8), Bangladesh (27), Sri Lanka (8) and Bhutan (26).
• Tamil Nadu – 13
• Kerala-6
• Highest
• Madya Pradesh – 43
• Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) is defined as the number of maternal deaths during a given time per 1,00,000 live births during the same time.
• Kerala, which has the lowest MMR, is followed by Maharashtra 33 and Telangana 43 Tamil Nadu 54.
• Other states with high MMR include Madhya Pradesh (173), Uttar Pradesh (167), Chhattisgarh (137), Odisha (119), Bihar (118), Rajasthan (113), Haryana (110), Punjab (105) and West Bengal (105).

State Health Mission

• To achieve the objectives of NRHM, the Tamil Nadu State Health Mission was constituted and Tamil Nadu State Health Society was registered under Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act 1975 with Registration No.47/2006.
• State Health Society is constituted merging the health societies for leprosy, tuberculosis, blindness control and integrated disease control programme except Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society.
• All the National Health Programmes at the State and District level are brought under one umbrella and it will function through the individual sub committees.
• This will help to pool all resources available in implementation of the programme.
• Reduction of infant mortality and maternal mortality.
• Universal access to public health services / women’s health, child health, drinking water, sanitation and hygiene, nutrition and universal immunization.
• Prevention and control of communicable and non-communicable diseases.
• Population stabilization-Gender and demographic factors.
• Access to integrated comprehensive primary health care.
• Revitalizing local health traditions and mainstreaming ISM.
• Promotion of healthy life styles.

Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project

• Increased access of health services for poor, disadvantaged, and tribal groups
• Developing effective interventions to address key health challenges
• Improving health outcomes and quality of service by strengthening management of the public sector health systems and by involving the non-governmental sector
• Increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of the public sector hospital services at the district and sub-district levels

Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS)

• The Government of India has initiated several healthcare schemes to provide best-in-class healthcare facilities to a number of low-income families in the country.
• One such health scheme implemented for the betterment of the people in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu is the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme.
• Almost 65% of low-income families in Tamil Nadu get access to world-class healthcare facilities with cashless assistance under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS), also known as Amma Health Insurance.
• Due to this, the people of Tamil Nadu do not have to undergo any financial struggle when seeking assistance during a medical emergency.

Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam Thittam

• To provide healthcare facilities at the doorstep of the poor residents of Tamil Nadu, the respected chief minister MK Stalin launched a new scheme on 5^th August 2021 known as Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam Scheme.
• Under the Tamil Nadu Doorstep Healthcare Scheme, various facilities like physiotherapy-related therapies, testing, and providing medicine for non-communicable diseases will be provided to poor people.

Innuyir Kappom Thittam

• Under Accident Victim Treatment Scheme, govt. will provide free care to road accident victims in 609 government and private hospitals.
• Tamil Nadu government will offer free 81 life-saving procedures worth Rs. 1 lakh to accident victims in the first 48 hours of their hospitalisation

Challenges

• India suffers from a hospital deficit, especially in rural areas, and many of the country’s current healthcare institutions need basic supplies and equipment.
• In India, the quality of healthcare varies greatly, with insufficient regulation leading to subpar care in some private healthcare facilities and rural areas with inadequate facilities and resources.
• Over 60% of all deaths in India are caused by non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which also have high rates of chronic illnesses like diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.
• India is one of the countries with the least mental health specialists per person.
• The government spends very little money on mental health.
• Poor mental health outcomes and insufficient care for those with mental illnesses are the results of this.
• The imbalance in the doctor-patient ratio is one of the most important issues.
• The Indian Journal of Public Health estimates that India will require 20 lakh doctors by 2030.

Education:

• Literacy rate in India as per Census 2011: 74%.
• Literacy rate: Male: 82.1%; Female: 65.5%
• Kerala tops the rankings, followed by Delhi, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
• Bihar is the lowest among states, followed by Arunachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand etc., however, they are improving their position.
• Bihar has a literacy rate of 63.8%, and that of women is 53.3%.
• Pre-primary level: 5-6 years of age.
• Primary (elementary) level: 6-14 years of age. Elementary-level education is guaranteed by our constitution under Article 21A. For this level, the government has introduced Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) under the Right to Education (RTE) Act.
• Secondary level: Age group between 14-18. For this level, the government has extended SSA to secondary education in the form of the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan.
• Higher education: generally, of three levels: UG→ PG→ MPhil/PhD. To cater to the requirements of higher education, the government has introduced Rashtriya Uchhattar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA).

Provisions in the Indian Constitution:

• Under Article 45 in DPSP, it was mentioned that the government should provide free and compulsory education for all children up to the age of 14 years within 10 years from the commencement of the Constitution.
• As this was not achieved, Article 21A was introduced by the 86^th Constitutional Amendment Act of 2002, making elementary education a fundamental right rather than a directive principle.
• Article 45 was amended to provide for early childhood care and education to children below the age of six years.
• To implement Article 21A, the government legislated the RTE Act.
• Under this act, SSA – Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan – got a further impetus.
• SSA aims to provide Universalization of Elementary Education (UEE) in a time-bound manner.

Right to free and compulsory education act

• 86^th Amendment Act 2002 introduced Article 21A, which provides for free and compulsory education of all children in the age group of six to fourteen years as a Fundamental Right.
• The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act was enacted to implement this fundamental right.

British period

Wood’s Despatch of 1854

• It is also known as the ‘Magna Carta of English education in India’ was the first comprehensive plan to envisage mass education in India.

Hunter Commission on Indian Education 1882

• Transfer of control of primary education to the new district and municipal boards.

Raleigh Commission, 1902

• Viceroy Curzon believed that universities were the factories producing students with revolutionary ideologies;
• He constituted the commission to review the entire university education system in India.
• The recommendation of the commission led to the university’s act of 1904.

Indian Universities Act, 1904

• More attention to study and research in universities rather than revolutionary activities.
• The numbers of fellows were reduced and were to be nominated by the government.
• The government acquired veto power against university senate decisions.
• Stricter affiliation rules.

Wardha Scheme of Basic Education by the Indian National Congress (INC)

• Basic handicrafts should be included in the syllabus
• First 7 years of school to be free and compulsory
• Hindi as medium till class 7 and English from class 8 onwards

Independent India:

Radhakrishnan committee

• In 1948-49, the University Education Commission was constituted under Radhakrishnan.
• It moulded the education system based on the needs of an independent India.

Kothari commission

• Standardization of educational system on 10+2+3 pattern.
• Establishment of Indian Education Service
• To raise expenditure on education from 2.9% of the GDP to 6% by 1985.

National Educational Policy, 1968

• Equalization of educational opportunities to achieve national integration and greater cultural and economic development.
• Increase public expenditure of education to 6% of GDP.
• Provide for better training and qualification of teachers.
• Three-language formula

National Educational Policy, 1985

• Launching of “Operation Blackboard” to improve primary schools nationwide.
• IGNOU, the Open University, was formed.
• The literacy rate of Tamil Nadu was 80.09%, of which the male literacy is 86.77% and female literacy is 73.14%.

T.S.R Committee, 2015

• Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) – children from four to five years of age – to be declared as a fundamental right.
• All India Education Service.

Kasturirangan Report on School Education (Draft National Education Policy) 2019

National education policy, 2020

Curriculum framework:

• The current structure of school education to be restructured based on the development needs of students.
• 10+2+3 structure to be replaced by 5-3-3-4 design comprising:
  • five years of foundational stage (three years of pre-primary school and classes one and two),
  • three years of preparatory stage (classes three to five),
  • three years of middle stage (classes six to eight), and
  • four years of secondary stage (classes nine to 12).
• Public spending at 6% of GDP

The Right to Education Act, 2009 (RTE Act):

• Expanding the ambit of the Act to all children between the ages of three to 18 years, thus including early childhood education and secondary school education.

Higher Education

• National Higher Education Regulatory Authority (NHERA)
• The policy aims to increase GER to 50% by 2035
• Allowing Foreign Universities: The document states universities from among the top 100 in the world will be able to set up campuses in India.

Education in Tamil Nadu

• The literacy rate of Tamil Nadu was 80.09%, of which the male literacy is 86.77% and female literacy is 73.14%.
• The sex ratio of Tamil Nadu was 996 females per 1000 males, which is much above the national average of 940.
• Tamil Nadu has 37 universities, 500 engineering colleges, 482 degree colleges, 75 medical colleges, 5 ayurveda colleges, 80 catering and hotel management colleges, 12 dental colleges, 10 homeopathy colleges, 125 management colleges, 42 nursing colleges, 7 colleges of occupational therapy, 37 pharmacy colleges, 49 physiotherapy colleges, 203 polytechnics and 1 unani medical college

Quality Education Initiatives

Illam Thedi Kalvi

• “Illam Thedi Kalvi” (Education at Doorstep) is the single largest post-pandemic educational outreach programme in the country.
• Launched by the hon’ble Chief minister in October 2021.
• For classes 4 to 8
• 46 lakh volunteers registered across the state from where the close to 2 lakh volunteers have been selected and retained.
• A three-tier structure has been set up at the State, District & School levels to steer this initiative to ensure that every child is supported to bridge the learning gaps.

Ennum Ezhuthum Scheme

• This scheme was launched to bridge the learning gap among students aged under 8, caused as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.
• It aims to ensure foundational numeracy and literacy by 2025.
• Under the Ennum Ezhuthum Scheme, education department will distribute workbooks to students from Classes 1 to 3, in order to assess and bridge the learning gap.

Creation of Language Lab

• 6029 High tech labs functioning at High School and Higher Secondary Schools will be transformed as Language Labs to enhance Tamil and English Language proficiency of Government School Students studying from 6th to 12^th.
• The Language Lab will serve as a tool and a platform for the students which remove the fear to speak English fluently, to respond, and to discuss and to pronounce the words appropriately and read with comprehension.

Kalvi TV

• Kalvi TV transmits educational e-content on all subjects of Classes 1 – 12 on a 24 x 7 basis.
• This took on the role of the schools when they remained closed during COVID-19 pandemic.
• The class wise and subject wise videos have been telecast by Tamil Nadu Arasu Cable and where its reach was not there, the support of private channels, direct to home (DTH) and multi service cable operators (MSO) has been enlisted.
• Kalvi TV has undertaken the task of video shoot, edit and telecast of 338 videos for Illam Thedi Kalvi programme and 232 videos for Ennum Ezhuthum programme.

Non-Formal and Adult Education

• The Government of Tamil Nadu has been implementing a series of Adult Education programmes continuously through the Directorate of Non-Formal and Adult Education from the year 1976.

Special Adult Literacy Programme in Aspirational Districts

• A Special Non-Formal and Adult Literacy Programme has been successfully implemented in the Aspirational districts of Ramanathapuram and Virudhunagar districts.
• The prime aim of this programme is to provide Basic Literacy and Numeracy.

Puthiya Bharatha Ezhutharivu Thittam 2022-27

• Based on the Census 2011 data, a new scheme “Puthiya Bharatha Ezhutharivu Thittam 2022-27” is being implemented in all the districts of the state.
• The prime aim of this programme is to provide Basic Literacy to 4.80 lakh adult illiterates in the age group of 15 years and above during the year 2022-23 and this scheme will be implemented as a 5 year programme upto the FY 2026-27.
• 28,848 Learners’ Literacy Centers have been established and 5.28 lakh learners have enrolled under this programme.

Public Libraries

• The Directorate of Public Libraries has taken significant efforts to provide efficient library and information services to the people of Tamil Nadu by setting up different categories of Public Libraries from the Connemara Public Library (State Central Library), Anna Centenary Library, 32 District Central Libraries, 1,926 Branch Libraries, 1,915 Village Libraries, 14 Mobile Libraries and 771 Part Time Libraries totalling to 4,660 libraries.

Connemara Public Library

• The Connemara Public Library, the State Central Library of Tamil Nadu was started in 1896.
• Being one of the four national depository libraries in India.

Anna Centenary Library

• Anna Centenary Library, the second largest public library in South Asia is located at Kotturpuram in Chennai.
• Anna Centenary Library was opened to the public on 15^th September 2010.

Kalaignar Centenary Library

• The six-storeyed library established along the New Natham Road, Madurai.
• Kalaignar Centenary Library was inaugurated on 15^th July 2023.

Teachers Recruitment Board

• The Teachers Recruitment Board was established in the year 1987 and entrusted with the task of recruitment of Teachers for the School Education Department, Higher Education Department and Directorate of Legal Studies.
• The Board is also the designated nodal agency for conducting TNTET,

Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corporation

• “The Bureau of Tamil Publications” was established to translate and publish Higher Education books of other languages into Tamil in 1961.
• The Bureau was named as “Tamil Nadu Textbook Society” in 1970 and was subsequently re-named “Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corporation” in 2013,

Functions

• Printing of Textbooks with energized contents for all three terms for students studying in Classes 1 to 7 and annual textbooks for students studying in Classes 8 to 12.
• Translating Tamil Literature into English and other South Indian languages.

Career Guidance & Life Skills

• The Naan Mudhalvan initiative launched by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on 01.03.2022.
• It bridges the information asymmetry among the Government School students with respect to higher education and consequent professional development opportunities.
• The government aims to equip every cohort of approximately 17 lakh students from Classes 9 to 12 with resources to apply the knowledge gained to make informed higher education and career decisions.
• The career guidance portal (Naan Mudhalvan) allows the students to explore the world of over 450 courses, more than 2500 colleges, identify means of financial support from organisations and government schemes.
• The Tamil Nadu Government has created awareness among students and parents about the different government schemes like Pudhumai Penn and 7.5% preferential allotment.

Vanavil Mandram – STEM & Science Exhibition

• Launched the Mobile Science Lab initiative, Vanavil Mandram on November 28, 2022 at Trichy to enhance Science and Mathematics learning by hands-on and practical work.
• This programme services 25 lakh government school students across 13,210 Middle, High and Higher Secondary Government Schools across Tamil Nadu.
• 710 STEM Resource persons have been selected and trained to visit schools.

Kalaiarangam and Kalai Thiruvizha

• In order to bring out the inherent talent of the students and connect those skills with traditional culture, classes on various art forms.
• The programme envisions introduction of art & culture in schools to build the confidence of students to express, connect and promote a vibrant, humane & empathetic learning environment.
• Competitions are held across the different verticals of Visual Arts, Drama, Music, Dance and Folklore at school, block and district levels to encourage students to participate and identify and groom top performers for national and international events.

Chief Minister’s Morning Breakfast Scheme:

• In order to provide morning food to 1,14,095 students of Classes 1 to 5 in select 1,545 Corporation, Municipality, Rural and Hill areas primary schools in the first phase.

Namma School Namma Ooru Palli

• Namma School Foundation aims to bring together communities and individuals who want to give back and corporates who want to invest in and nurture a new and aspiring generation, hand in-hand with the Government of Tamil Nadu.
• Contributions are being taken to improve the quality of education across the spectrum of school infrastructure, health and hygiene, nutrition, pedagogy, sports and culture, co-curricular activities.

Welfare Schemes

• Noon Meal Program
• Text Books
• Note Books
• School Bag
• Footwear, Shoes and Socks
• Atlas
• Crayon and Colour pencils
• Geometry Box

Tamil Nadu Rural Students Talent Search Examination (TRUST)

• “Tamil Nadu Rural Students Aptitude Test” for students whose annual family income is less than Rs.1,00,000/- in rural areas
• Students Talent Search Scheme Exam is conducted in each revenue district (except Chennai, 37 districts) to select from among the students studying in Class 9 at present.
• The students must have secured at least 50 percent of total marks in Class 8 to be eligible for the Scheme.
• The selected students who pass each year there onwards receive Rs.1000/- per year for 4 years up to Class 12.
• The selected students who pass each year there onwards receive Rs.1000/- per year for 4 years up to Class 12.

National Means-Cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS)

• The National Skill and Income Scholarship Scheme provides scholarships to meritorious students belonging to economically backward classes encouraging them to pursue postsecondary studies.
• The state government conducts a merit test and selects the students who complete Class 8 with 55% marks for the scholarship. Rs. 12,000/- per annum for four years, that is from Classes 9 to 12, is given to the students who pass the qualifying examination.

Tamil Nadu Palliparvai

• The School Education Department has created and launched a modern governance mechanism rooted in data science assisting the system in evidence-based decision making.

Samagra Shiksha

• It is a flagship scheme of Government of India and aims at providing necessary inputs to schools and sets standards on various education related indicators.
• It also aims at treating school education as a continuum from Classes Pre Primary to Std XII without any barriers like primary, upper primary, secondary and higher secondary.
• It is an amalgamation of erstwhile schemes like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Rashtriya Madhamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) and Teacher Education (TE).

Directorate of Private Schools

• A new Directorate namely the Directorate of Private Schools was formed in January 2023 to monitor the administration of all private schools functioning under various educational boards.
• At present, there are 12,631 such schools imparting education to nearly 56.9 lakh children.
• These schools are monitored by the Director of Private Schools at the State level and the District Educational Officer (Private Schools) at the Revenue District level.
• To ensure the implementation of the provisions of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 and Tamil Nadu Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2011

The Tamil Nadu Private Schools (Regulation) Act, 2018

• After the enactment of The Tamil Nadu Uniform System of School Education Act, 2010 all private schools were brought under the State Common Board of School Education.
• In pursuance to this, the Tamil Nadu Private Schools (Regulation) Act, 2018 was enacted.

Implementation of Tamil Nadu Tamil Learning Act

• To ensuring compulsory learning of Tamil language and enacted the Tamil Nadu Tamil Learning Act, 2006.
• learning of Tamil as first language was made compulsory from Class 1 onwards in a phased manner from the academic year 2006-07.
• All private school students learn Tamil as first language from Classes 1 to 10.

The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009

• The Tamil Nadu Schools (Regulation of Collection of Fee) Act, 2009
• In order to prevent commercialization of education and collection of capitation fees, the Government enacted the Tamil Nadu Schools (Regulation of Collection of Fee) Act, 2009 and framed Rules there under.
• A Committee namely Private Schools Fee Determination Committee has been constituted for the purpose of fixing fees for the private schools.

State Council of Educational Research and Training

• The State Council of Educational Research and Training is the apex body in the Department that is responsible for ensuring the quality of school education.
• It is an academically vibrant entity, providing quality inputs to all the Directorates of School Education on curriculum, syllabus, textbooks, pedagogy, assessment and guidance and counselling etc…

Higher Education

• The Directorate of Technical Education was established on 14th October 1957

Welfare Schemes and Initiatives

• 5% Seats on Preferential Basis to Government School Students.
• As per the Act, 7.5% internal allocation is made in Government quota seats.
• 8,771 Government School Students have been admitted during the academic year 2022-23.

Financial Assistance to Government School Students Joining Premier Institutions

• To motivate Government school students to aspire to join premier Higher Education Institutions like Indian Institute of Technology, Indian Institute of Science and All India Institute of Medical Sciences

First Generation Graduate Tuition Fee Concession

• “First Generation Graduate” students admitted in Engineering Colleges in the State through Single Window Counselling.
• This scheme has been implemented from the year 2010-11.

Facilities Extended to Sri Lankan Tamil Repatriates

• The eligible Sri Lankan Tamil repatriates, concession in tuition fee has been extended as applicable to the First-Generation Graduate students selected for professional courses through Single Window Counselling in Tamil Nadu.

Post Matric Scholarship Scheme

• Post Matric Scholarship Scheme jointly implemented by the Central and State Governments for the students belonging to SC, ST and SC converted into Christianity was introduced in the year 2011-12.
• Objective to uplift the students by providing them access to free higher education at all levels.

Chief Minister’s Research Grant Scheme

• “Chief Minister’s Research Grant Scheme” has been introduced from the academic year 2023-24.
• The Grant also aims at inculcating a scientific approach among communities through the experience of employing and evaluating new technology, products and develop strong curiosity, capability and attitude to try new products and processes to improve society.
• For all Government Higher Education Institutions and Universities in Tamil Nadu.

Collegiate Education

• The Department of Collegiate Education was formed in the year 1965.

Bharathi Young Poet Award

• In commemoration with Mahakavi Bharathi’s Centenary Memorial Celebration, an announcement was made in the year 2021, to observe 11^th September of every year.
• “Bharathi Young Poet Award” along with a cash prize of Rs.1.00 lakh will be given to one male and one female student.

Stipend for Tamil Medium Students

• During the year 1971-72, the Government introduced a scheme of granting stipends to encourage the students enrolled in Tamil Medium.
• 900/- per annum

Perunthalaivar Kamarajar College Development Scheme

• It is imperative to improve the infrastructure facilities namely Laboratories, Classrooms, Toilets and other amenities.

Chief Minister’s Research Fellowship

• The Government have announced that Chief Minister Research Fellowship will be granted for the meritorious Postgraduate students to provide a research platform in Tamil Nadu.
• 60 eligible scholars from Arts, Social Science and Humanities stream and 60 scholars from science stream, totally 120 scholars will be provided with a monthly stipend of Rs.25,000/- for a maximum period of three years in lieu of the existing scheme.

Naan Mudhalvan Scheme

• The Government have introduced curriculum courses for the students of Government Polytechnic, Engineering and Government Arts and Science Colleges under Naan Mudhalvan Scheme in the year 2022-23, in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation, across Tamil Nadu.

Pudhumai Penn Scheme

• “Pudhumai Penn Scheme” (Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar Higher Education Assurance Scheme) under the Social Welfare Department on 6th September 2022 to provide Rs.1,000/- per month to girl students who had studied from sixth to twelfth standard in Government / Department schools to pursue their higher education in educational institutions recognized by Government of Tamil Nadu / Government of India / University Grants Commission situated in Tamil Nadu for all recognized courses of Under Graduation including Medicine and Engineering, Paramedical courses, Diplomas and ITI courses etc.
• During the academic year 2022-23, 4,806 students of Government Polytechnic Colleges and 12,711 students of Government Engineering Colleges and 1,27,767 students of Arts and Science Colleges have benefitted.
• The admission percentage of these girl students has substantially increased by 29% compared to last academic year.
• increase in the enrolment of girl students belonging to SC (A) with 71%, ST girl students with 41%, BC (Muslim) with 51%, DNC with 32% and MBC with 35%.

University of Madras

• University of Madras was established in the year 1857.
• As an affiliating University, it had its jurisdiction over the then Madras Presidency.

Madurai Kamaraj University

• Madurai Kamaraj University, the second University started in the State of Tamil Nadu, was established in the year 1966.
• In NIRF 2023 – rankings 94^th

Anna University

• Anna University, the single largest technical University in India, has been bringing forth professionals with high technical skills.
• It was established on 4th September, 1978, as a unitary type University by integrating four well-known technical institutions namely College of Engineering, Guindy (1794), Alagappa College of Technology (1944), Madras Institute of Technology (1949), and School of Architecture and Planning (1957).
• Now, it is an affiliating type of university with all the engineering colleges of the State.
• In NIRF 2023 rankings Anna University placed 18^th

Bharathiar University

• Bharathiar University was established in 1982.
• In 2023 NIRF rankings Bharathiar University placed 36^th

Bharathidasan University

• Bharathidasan University established in 1982.

Mother Teresa Women’s University

• Established in 1984 by the Government of Tamil Nadu, the University.

Alagappa University

• Alagappa University was established in 1985.
• In 2023 NIRF rankings -56^th

Manonmaniam Sundaranar University

• Manonmaniam Sundaranar University established in 1990.

Periyar University

• The Government of Tamil Nadu established Periyar University in Salem in 1997.

Tamil Nadu Open University

• The Tamil Nadu Open University (TNOU) was established in 2002.

Thiruvalluvar University

• Thiruvalluvar University was established by the Government of Tamil Nadu on 16.10.2002.

Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University

• Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University (TNTEU), established in 2008.
• The quality of Higher education is determined by the quality of primary and secondary education, emphasizing the importance of quality teachers in primary and secondary institutions.
• Its aim is to standardize quality in teacher education and to create and disseminate knowledge of teacher education to build a strong society.

Annamalai University

• Annamalai University was established as per Annamalai University Act 1928 (Tamil Nadu Act 1 of 1929) and the above Act was repealed and the University was brought under the control of Government of Tamil Nadu on 25.09.2013 by enacting the Annamalai University Act, 2013 (Tamil Nadu Act 20 of 2013).

Tamil Nadu Archives

• The formal origin of the Tamil Nadu Archives may be traced to the Central Record Room created at Fort St. George in 1805.
• Later in 1973, it was renamed as the Tamil Nadu Archives and Historical Research.
• Tamil Nadu Archives plays a vital role in preserving the original records of the Government.
• Tamil Nadu Archives is a century old institution and house for 40 crore records.

Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education

• The Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education (TANSCHE) was established in 1992 by the Government of Tamil Nadu.
• This Council has been executing academic programmes of Government of Tamil Nadu to promote higher education in Tamil Nadu.

Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA)

• Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) launched in 2013.
• The objective of RUSA is to enhance the quality of Higher Education with focus on Access, Equity & Excellence with greater efficiency, transparency, accountability and responsiveness.

Science City

• Science City was established in the year 1998 under the Chairmanship of Hon’ble Minister for Higher Education.
• The prime objectives of Science City is promoting science and technology components involving existing and new institutions, encouraging technology transfer component involving industrial houses and venture capital agencies, promoting global technology monitoring and forecasting and establishing a fully equipped science complex.

Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre

• Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre was instituted in the year 1983.
• Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre has established Science Centres to illustrate the principles and power of science and technology in everyday life.
• Periodically, it organizes promotional activities to bring science closer to the people of Tamil Nadu.
• Tamil Nadu Science and Technology Centre has established Periyar Science and Technology Centre with B.M. Birla Planetarium in Chennai, Anna Science Centre-Planetarium in Tiruchirappalli, District Science Centre in Vellore and Regional Science Centre in Coimbatore.
• Planetariums in Chennai and Tiruchirappalli.

Inspire Award Under Manak Scheme

• In co-ordination with Department of Science and Technology and National Innovation Foundation, India, this programme is being implemented with the objective of attracting young school students (VI – X Standards) to study Science and to pursue research career. Under this MANAK scheme (Million Minds Augmenting National Aspiration and Knowledge), an award of Rs.10,000/- is given to each selected student for preparation of project/ model/ showcasing of idea and participation in the District Level Exhibition and Project Competition (DLEPC).
• The selected students in DLEPCs participate in State Level Exhibitions and the winners of State Level Exhibitions further participate in the National Level Exhibition organized every year in New Delhi.

Ariviyal Palagai Scheme

• Under this scheme a Tamil e-magazine, “Ariviyal Palagai” containing many Science articles is being published every month.
• Several Science outreach activities are being organized at various places in Tamil Nadu.

Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology

• Tamil Nadu State Council for Science and Technology was formed in the year 1984 by Government of Tamil Nadu as an autonomous apex body to aid development of Science and Technology sector of our State.
• The Council is implementing Science and Technology schemes related to research and development, extension and field-oriented programmes, to fulfill this mandate.

Young Student Scientist Programme

• A total of 40 students of Government and Panchayath Schools studying IX standard are selected from each district and 15 days intensive residential programme is conducted for them in a nearby University / College during summer vacation.

Young Scientists Fellowship Scheme

• Young scientists and researchers of our State below 40 years of age are provided with a fellowship of Rs.10,000/- pm for a period of 2 to 6 months.

Tamil Nadu Scientists Award (TANSA)

• Contributions of our State Scientists and Researchers are being encouraged and honoured through TANSA.
• Awards are given in 10 disciplines such as Agricultural, Biological, Chemical, Environmental, Medical, Mathematical, Physical, Social Sciences, Veterinary Sciences and Engineering & Technology

Tamil Nadu State Urdu Academy

• The Government of Tamil Nadu established Tamil Nadu State Urdu Academy for promotion of Urdu language in the State.
• The Hon’ble Minister for Higher Education is the Chairperson of the Academy.
• At present, Urdu language is offered in Colleges in the State.

Tamil Nadu State Council for Technical Education

• The Tamil Nadu State Council for Technical Education was constituted as per Tamil Nadu State Council for Technical Education Act, 2010 and the Council started functioning since 17.06.2010 for State level planning for the development of Technical Education.

Tamil Nadu Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Corporation

• “Tamil Nadu Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Corporation” in partnership with Madras Institute of Technology, Anna University has been established to cater the drone-based needs of various departments of Government of Tamil Nadu through drone-based solutions and services in law enforcement, mining, revenue and municipal administration, urban development, water management, agriculture and allied sectors, disaster management, health, forestry, archaeology, Geographic Information System (GIS) and environmental studies, etc..