A farmer prepares a field before the arrival of monsoon at the outskirts of Chennai, Paraniputhur, File
| Photo Credit: Ragunathan SR
Crop loans to the tune of ₹53,340 crore were provided to over 66.24 lakh farmers across the State through the Cooperation Department during the past four years, the Tamil Nadu government said on Sunday (July 20, 2025). It also waived jewel loans worth ₹4,904 crore that benefited over 11.70 lakh people.
Self-help group (SHG) loans amounting to ₹2,118.80 crore were waived for over 1.01 lakh self help groups, and the loan limit for women self-help groups was increased, providing ₹10,997 crore in loans, an official release listing out the steps undertaken by the Cooperation Department over the past four years said.
Over 11.88 lakh farmers received ₹6,372 crore in loans for livestock development, and loans totalling ₹225.94 crore were provided to 47,221 differently-abled individuals. About 16,500 working women received loans to the tune of ₹470 crore in loans and over 49,000 women entrepreneurs were provided with ₹283.27 crore in loans.
Under the Annal Ambedkar Business Pioneer Scheme, 86 sanitation workers received ₹52.34 crore in loans to become entrepreneurs and multi-purpose cooperative societies disbursed loans totaling ₹1,121.31 crore were provided, it said. “A new arts and science college was established in Attur through the Cooperation Department.”
To protect and uplift folk artists who rely on their art for livelihood, and to improve their social, economic, and financial status, loans totaling ₹18.80 crore have been provided to 4,494 folk artists so far, it said.
Training fees amounting to ₹38.50 lakh for poor students studying in the two Cooperative Industrial Training Institutes in Bargur, Krishnagiri District, and Pattukkottai, Thanjavur District, were waived for the academic years 2021-2022 and 2022-2023.
In line with the Chief Minister’s Independence Day speech last year, he launched the projects to establish 1,000 Chief Minister’s Pharmacies through which generic medicines, branded medicines, nutraceuticals, and Indian medicines were provided to the public at a 25% discount.
Published – July 20, 2025 03:40 pm IST
