The Economic Survey 2025-26, presented in Parliament by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday, highlighted some of the key initiatives being implemented by the Tamil Nadu government, including ‘Thozhi’ hostels for working women, which provide affordable housing to working women.
Run by the Tamil Nadu Working Women’s Hostels Corporation through a public-private partnership, these hostels are equipped with gender-sensitive design, furnished rooms, crèches, kitchens and shared space, according to the survey. They offer a practical blueprint for states trying to expand the female workforce.
Women’s workforce
Tamil Nadu is the leading state in India in terms of women workforce. So far, 19 ‘Thozhi’ hostels equipped with state-of-the-art facilities have been set up in 15 districts, benefiting 1,824 women. Fourteen more hostels are being constructed at a total cost of ₹176.93 crore and will accommodate 2,000 women. Two months ago, Chief Minister MK Stalin laid the foundation stone for 12 ‘Thozhi’ hostels at a cost of ₹62.51 crore. These hostels will benefit 740 working women.
Vulnerable districts
The survey states that Tamil Nadu has a coastline of 1,069 kilometers in 14 districts that are vulnerable to coastal erosion, storm surges and sea level rise. The Tamil Nadu Coastal Restoration Mission (TN-SHORE) takes a multi-pronged approach to improve biodiversity and coastal protection, improve livelihoods and mitigate pollution.
TN-SHORE is a ₹ 1,675 crore project funded by the World Bank to strengthen coastal resilience and the state’s economy. Of the total investment, around ₹1,000 crore will come from the World Bank and the state will contribute the rest.
The survey also highlights Climate Resilient Villages, an initiative taken in Tamil Nadu and several other states. Such an initiative is said to show how resilience can be institutionalized at the grassroots level by transforming resilience from a project to a function of local government. In Tamil Nadu, Killai near Pichavaram in Cuddalore district, known for its extensive mangrove forests, was the first climate-resilient village.
It says that Tamil Nadu is one of the few states that has not only improved its business environment by integrating sustainability measures, but also reduced the time it takes to deal with the environment through a corporate reform action plan. In addition, Tamil Nadu has improved ease of doing business through single-window clearance, digitized approvals and land reforms, while promoting solar parks, district-level decarbonisation plans and energy efficiency programmes.
Waste water treatment
The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board actively monitors industrial effluent treatment systems and promotes the establishment of joint sewage treatment plants for clustering of small-scale and pollution-intensive industries such as tanneries and textile units to ensure that the treated effluent meets the prescribed environmental standards before discharge.
Although the number of international students enrolled in Indian universities has increased from 7,000 in 2000-01 to 49,000 in 2020, the survey points out that earlier centers, including Tamil Nadu, have reported a decline.
Published – 29 Jan 2026 21:18 IST
