Union Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment Shri Ramdas Athawale today said the Central government is implementing many schemes to make education, employment and economic development available for all.

Speaking to the media after he launched '14567' helpline for elders and '181' awareness helpline for women at an event in Vellore, Shri Athwale said over 1.13 crore Jan Dhan bank accounts have been opened in Tamil Nadu so far.

More than 3.60 crore persons in Tamil Nadu have availed benefits under Mudra scheme since 2015, he said and added that 29 lakh in the State have received LPG connections so far since 2016.

Under the Prime Minister's Housing Scheme, 5.60 lakh persons have received houses in rural areas and 4.42 lakh persons in urban areas since 2015, Shri Athwale said.

Talking about the Prime Minister's Jan Arogya scheme, he said 39 lakh persons in Tamil Nadu have received the benefits so far at a cost of Rs 4.87 thousand crores.

The Minister of State said that the Centre is promoting inter-caste marriages and 1.75 lakh such weddings are happening in a year. The Union government is giving Rs 2.5 lakh financial assistance to inter-caste couples.

Stating that the Tamil Nadu government was supporting the minorities, Shri Athwale said it should give 5 acre land to the oppressed sections so that they could attain economic development.

Vellore District Collector Shri Kumaravel Pandian, Press Information Bureau, Chennai, Director Shri Gurubabu Balaraman and other officials were present during the event.

Shri Athwale also visited the Vellore Sepoy Mutiny pillar and paid tributes. Vellore Sepoy Mutiny is hailed as the event that sowed the seeds for the country's independence.

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