Tamil Nadu to Launch AI Mission for Strategic AI Utilization

By siliconindia  |  Monday, 19 February 2024, 17:28 IST

Tamil Nadu to Launch AI Mission for Strategic AI Utilization
In a significant move towards technological advancement, Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu announced the establishment of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Mission during the budget presentation for the financial year 2024-25. The mission aims to formulate comprehensive guidelines for effectively integrating AI in various sectors, including education, employment, industry, research, and medicine. It will also develop clear protocols for the judicious utilization of AI.
The AI Mission will bring together expertise from leading educational institutions in Tamil Nadu, professionals from the electronics industry, and experts in the field to drive innovation and progress.
Additionally, the Chief Minister’s Breakfast scheme is set to be extended to government-aided primary schools in rural areas, with an allocated budget of Rs 600 crore for the initiative.
Highlighting a commitment to gender inclusivity and economic empowerment, Thennarasu introduced a special scheme to incentivize additional employment of women in the state. The scheme offers a payroll subsidy of 10 per cent for the salaries of women, differently-abled, and transgender employees for two years in new industrial units providing direct employment to over 500 such individuals from Tamil Nadu.
The budget also focuses on encouraging the creation of high-paying jobs in new Global Capability Centres (GCCs) by providing a payroll subsidy of 30 percent in the first year, 20 percent in the second year, and 10 per cent in the third year for jobs with a monthly pay above Rs 1,00,000.
Addressing the concerns of the transgender community, Thennarasu announced that the state government will cover higher education expenses for transgenders through the transgender welfare board, allocating Rs 2 crore for this purpose. Additionally, the government will shoulder the hostel fees of transgenders, reinforcing its commitment to inclusive and equitable development.

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