India’s 2nd mahout village opened in Anamalai Tiger Reserve

CHENNAI: India's second mahout village was opened at Kozhikamuthi elephant camp in Anamalai Tiger Reserve, on Monday.

Inaugurated by Chief Minister MK Stalin, the village has 47 staff quarters constructed for Rs 5.4 crore to provide accommodation for mahouts and elephant caretakers.

“This milestone follows the inauguration of India's first mahout village at Theppakadu in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in May. With this, Tamil Nadu has set a new benchmark in recognising the selfless service of mahouts and kavadis, who devote their lives to the care and companionship of elephants," a government release said.

The Kozhikamuthi elephant camp, one of the oldest in India, is home to mahouts from the tribal community who possess generations of traditional knowledge in elephant management. The camp currently houses 24 elephants.

A solar-powered micro-grid with battery energy storage system (BESS) has been established in the village for Rs 3.5 crore with funding from the State Planning Commission's Innovation Fund. Even in cloudy or rainy conditions, the system provides two days of power, making the village a living model of energy independence, sustainable living, and harmony with nature. This represents one of the best practices in tiger reserve management in the country, the release claimed.

Recognising the invaluable role of tribal knowledge, the State government has amended service rules to provide direct recruitment opportunities for kavadis from indigenous communities, ensuring their traditional expertise is preserved and integrated into elephant management practices. This step not only strengthens conservation efforts but also safeguards cultural heritage and intergenerational knowledge transfer, the release added.

CM opens welfare, infra projects across the state

Chief Minister Stalin also inaugurated a wide range of welfare and infrastructure projects worth over Rs 317 crore, aimed at empowering Adi Dravidar and Tribal communities, strengthening healthcare facilities, and enhancing rural education and social development across Tamil Nadu.

Under the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare department, he inaugurated 20 Social Justice Hostels through video-conference from the State Secretariat. The hostels were constructed for Rs 137.31 crore. Classroom buildings for 39 Adi Dravidar Welfare Schools worth Rs 39.29 crore, 250 houses for tribal families under the Tholkudi Scheme costing Rs 12.72 crore, 16 Village Knowledge Centres built at Rs 15.93 crore, and nine multi-purpose community halls developed for Rs 5.40 crore were also unveiled.

To improve mobility and healthcare access, Stalin flagged off 26 vehicles, including 23 buses worth Rs 3.62 crore for tribal residential schools and three CSR-funded vehicles, alongside 25 emergency ambulances (Rs 5.78 crore) and 20 mobile medical units (Rs 4 crore) dedicated to tribal healthcare services.

The Chief Minister also released the Hindi translation of R Balakrishnan IAS (Retd) 's acclaimed book "Sabyata Ki Yatra: Sindhu Se Vaigai" (A Journey of Civilisation: From Indus to Vaigai), underscoring Tamil Nadu's cultural and historical ties.

Stalin also launched the enhanced pension scheme for retired temple employees, raising monthly pensions to Rs 5,000 and family pensions to Rs 2,500.

Further, he inaugurated healthcare buildings worth Rs 173.81 crore, laid the foundation stones for new healthcare facilities valued at Rs 20.15 crore, and commissioned advanced laboratory equipment worth Rs 24 crore at food analysis labs in Thanjavur, Salem, and Palayamkottai, under the Health and Family Welfare department.

772 new houses at SL rehabilitation camps

The Chief Minister also opened 772 newly built houses, constructed for Rs 44.48 cr, in Sri Lankan Tamils’ rehabilitation camps across four districts of the state, via video conference from the Secretariat. Ministers E V Velu and S M Nasar and Chief Secretary N Muruganandam were present on the occasion.

The newly constructed houses are located in eight camps in Virudhunagar, Thoothukudi, Tiruvannamalai, and Sivaganga districts. The government has also improved the basic amenities by taking up works to the tune of Rs 6.58 cr in these camps.

According to officials, the government had constructed and handed over 3,746 houses out of the promised 10,469 units in 69 camps in 28 districts. By handing over the newly built 772 units, the total number of Sri Lankan families benefited under the TN government’s housing scheme crossed 4,500.

As per the announcement made in the State Assembly under Rule 110 in August 2021 by CM, aiming to improve the living conditions of Sri Lankan Tamils residing in Sri Lankan Tamils’ camps across 28 districts -- the state, the state government taken up the works in three phases to materialise the promised 10,469 units to as many as families for Rs 629 cr.

In the first phase of the rehabilitation programme, the government had issued an order to construct a total of 3,510 houses at Rs 180.34 cr in 35 camps. So far, a total of 2,781 houses were constructed in 32 camps across 18 districts and handed over to the beneficiaries, added officials. They noted that several houses on the verge of completion and direction have been issued to expedite the pending works.