Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has launched the Tamil Nadu Women Entrepreneur Empowerment Scheme (TWEES), designed by the MSME Department, which aims to encourage one lakh women to take up entrepreneurship in five years.During an event at the Secretariat on Wednesday, Mr. Stalin virtually inaugurated welfare centres for construction workers and elderly citizens, set up by the Labour Welfare and Skill Development Department. He also laid the foundation for the construction of three new ITIs to be constructed at a cost of ₹27 crore.Mr. Stalin released the Tiruchirappalli Master Plan 2045 and the Thoothukudi Master Plan 2045. He also virtually inaugurated medical infrastructure in various locations across the State, built at a total cost of ₹167 crore. He also laid the foundation for the construction of warehousing units with a total capacity of 60,000 MT, executed by the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation at a total cost of ₹78 crore.The Chief Minister inaugurated infrastructure set up for the fisheries sector at various locations across the State at a total cost of ₹100 crore. He also laid the foundation for the implementation of 13 new projects to be implemented at a total cost of ₹665 crore. He inaugurated three shooting floors in the Tamil Nadu Government M.G.R. Film and Television Institute, established at a cost of ₹39 crore.Mr. Stalin laid the foundation for the construction of a Mangrove Conservation Centre at Pichavaram in Cuddalore district, an International Migratory Bird Centre at Marakkanam in Villupuram district under the Tamil Nadu Sustainably Harnessing Ocean Resources and Blue Economy, and a Conservation Centre for the Nilgiri Tahr in Coimbatore. He also presented the Dr. A.J.T. Johnsingh Wildlife Conservation Award to the son of late veterinarian Vaidyanathan Krishnamurthy.The Tamil Nadu government had nationalised the works of late Periyarist V. Anaimuthu and writer Erode Tamilanban. The Chief Minister handed over the royalty to the family members of these scholars.He also released the re-edited versions of 500 rare spiritual books by the publication division of the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department.At another event, Mr. Stalin handed over TNHB housing allotment orders to Thayammal Aravanan, Ponneelan alias Bhaktavasalan, and historian A.R. Venkatachalapathy. He also released the translation of 73 works of B.R. Ambedkar from Marathi to Tamil.In a social media post, Mr. Stalin said his government had distributed 23.56 lakh pattas to beneficiaries during the past five years. He said his government had helped 8.66 lakh families in realising their dream of owning a house.Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin; Ministers K.N. Nehru, S. Muthusamy, T.M. Anbarasan, M.P. Saminathan, P. Geetha Jeevan, Anitha R. Radhakrishnan, R.S. Rajakannappan, R. Sakkarapani, Ma. Subramanian, P.K. Sekarbabu, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, C.V. Ganesan, T.R.B. Rajaa; Chief Secretary N. Muruganandam and senior officials were also present.The State government, in a press release issued on March 5, Thursday said that a total of 30 SIPCOT industrial estates have been developed during the past five years. It said that land to the tune of 7,558 acre of land have been allocated for about 800 new industrial units.Published - March 06, 2026 12:30 am IST