KMUT supported beneficiaries with food, medicines, and children’s education: State Planning Commission report

An impact assessment of Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam (KMUT) in about 10,300 households across Tamil Nadu by the State Planning Commission found that the beneficiaries used the scheme to purchase essential food items and medicines, and for the education of their children, among others.

About 17% of KMUT beneficiaries (covered in the study) were single women — who were either widowed, separated, divorced, or unmarried — and about 15% were senior citizens.

The report on the impact assessment of KMUT was submitted to Chief Minister M.K. Stalin by SPC ex-officio vice-chairperson Udhayanidhi Stalin and SPC executive vice-chairperson J. Jeyaranjan in Chennai on Tuesday (October 14, 2025).

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They also submitted other reports to the Chief Minister, namely ‘Evaluation of Naan Mudhalvan Scheme’, ‘Start-Up Ecosystem in TN: Opportunities and Challenges’, ‘Draft Housing Policy for Rural and Urban Tamil Nadu’, and ‘Integrated Townships Development Policy’.

Findings

The report stated that 79% of KMUT beneficiaries in rural Tamil Nadu and 55% in the urban parts of the State report purchasing more vegetables for their family, while 63% of beneficiaries in rural areas and 46% in urban areas spend their KMUT money on purchasing better quality rice.

About 39% of beneficiaries in rural Tamil Nadu and 35% in urban Tamil Nadu report using the KMUT money towards the purchase of medicines. “One-fifth of beneficiaries report spending their KMUT money on their children’s education,” the report stated.

It noted that every woman who was interviewed as a beneficiary of KMUT vouched for the certainty and regularity of the amount. The findings were “clearly indicative of the reach of the programme to the most deserving and most marginalised sections in Tamil Nadu.”

Naan Mudhalvan Scheme

Another report, ‘Evaluation of Naan Mudhalvan Scheme’, said the programme has enhanced employability confidence among students in the State. About 76% of engineering and 81% of polytechnic students reported improved job prospects, as the programme equipped them with practical skills for diverse career paths.

The evaluation study’s sample targeted high-enrolment courses in civil, mechanical, electronics, electrical, and computer science disciplines across 55 engineering and 72 polytechnic colleges in 19 districts, engaging 3,950 and 5,059 student respondents, respectively.

About 61% of engineering and 71% of polytechnic students earn digital certificates that increase their visibility on job portals and professional social networking platforms, it said. The programme resulted in improved placement readiness, tangible internship and placement outcomes and equitable skill development across regions.

The report also flagged certain operational challenges. If institutions lacked the minimum 60-student enrolment, students had to travel to hub institutions. The need for capacity-building among trainers, data connectivity for using the programme’s portal, better placing to reduce scheduling difficulties, were among the challenges flagged in the report.

The report recommended strengthening trainer capacity and course delivery, improving digital infrastructure and connectivity, enhancing practical training and resource access, optimising coordination and scheduling, setting up Industry 4.0 centres and using artificial intelligence.

A press release said the draft housing policy addressed the urgent need for sustainable, inclusive, and affordable housing across both rural and urban regions of the State. A copy of the policies were not available. It is a draft policy and a “confidential document” until the departments concerned endorse and release them, a source said.