Ananthan Ayyasamy, District President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Tenkasi District, met Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan in New Delhi yesterday and submitted a detailed representation seeking the establishment of key educational and digital infrastructure projects for Tenkasi District and the wider South Tamil Nadu region.
The memorandum focused on four priority initiatives aimed at strengthening access to quality education, digital learning and innovation-driven skill development:
CBSE Sub-Regional Centre of Excellence, Tenkasi
A proposal to establish a regional hub for teacher training in STEM education, digital pedagogy and competency-based learning, while also supporting the distribution of NCERT, SCERT and Tamil-medium DIKSHA educational resources across South Tamil Nadu.
AI, Robotics & Emerging Technologies Resource Centre
A request to create a regional innovation hub that would support a cluster of Atal Tinkering Labs in CBSE and government schools, helping students gain exposure to artificial intelligence, robotics and future technologies.
Digital Education Access Lab (DEAL)
A proposal to establish a nodal digital learning centre integrated with PM e-Vidya and DIKSHA platforms, enabling virtual classrooms, digital content access and e-learning facilities for rural students.
Kendriya Vidyalaya Feasibility Study
A request for the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS) to undertake a feasibility assessment of land availability and sponsoring-authority options for establishing a Kendriya Vidyalaya in Tenkasi District.
The representation highlighted Tenkasi’s emergence as a notable rural technology ecosystem, supported by institutions and enterprises such as Zoho Corporation and Zoho Schools, as well as a growing trend of skilled professionals returning to the district. It also pointed to the need for greater educational infrastructure in South Tamil Nadu, particularly in areas related to teacher training, digital education and access to national educational resources.
Speaking after the meeting, Ananthan Ayyasamy said, “Education and digital access will define the opportunities available to the next generation. Tenkasi and South Tamil Nadu possess immense talent and potential. These proposals are intended to strengthen the educational ecosystem and ensure that students from rural regions have access to the same opportunities available elsewhere in the country.”
The representation was submitted in alignment with the Government of India’s continued emphasis on the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, digital learning expansion and innovation-led education initiatives.
Ananthan stated that he would continue engaging with the Ministry and relevant authorities to pursue these proposals and advocate for enhanced educational infrastructure in Tenkasi District.