CM Joseph Vijay Demands NEET Exemption and Pending Central Funds at Niti Aayog
During his first Niti Aayog Governing Council meeting in Delhi on Thursday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay raised key demands for Chennai and the state, urging the Union government to exempt Tamil Nadu from the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and release pending central funds. The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was followed by a meeting between the Chief Minister and the Prime Minister.
Addressing the council, Chief Minister Vijay stated that his government would work constructively with the Union government while firmly safeguarding the interests and aspirations of Tamil Nadu.
Among the key financial demands, the Chief Minister sought the immediate release of Rs 3,284 crore under the Samagra Shiksha scheme. He also requested the release of Rs 2,284 crore for the Hogenakkal Phase-II Combined Water Supply Scheme.
In addition to the NEET exemption, Vijay appealed to the central government to officially declare the ancient Tamil text "Thirukkural" as a "national literature."
The Chief Minister submitted a detailed list of infrastructure proposals to the Union government. This included a request for the approval of six national highway projects to improve road connectivity across the state, as well as the establishment of a second AIIMS in Tamil Nadu, with a preference for Coimbatore.
Addressing maritime safety and livelihoods, Vijay highlighted the frequent arrest of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan navy. He urged the Union government to protect the traditional fishing rights of Indian fishermen in the Palk Bay, ensure their safety and security, and secure the release of their fishing boats. He called for urgent diplomatic intervention to secure the safe return of Tamil Nadu fishermen currently held in Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Further, Vijay requested federal support for permanent flood mitigation infrastructure in Tamil Nadu’s coastal cities under the Climate Resilient Master Plan 2045, noting the state's 1,076-kilometer coastline.
He also pushed for the Space Manufacturing Hub at Kulasekarapattinam, established in partnership with IN-SPACe, to be declared a National Space Manufacturing Hub. He stated this would enable end-to-end manufacturing from propellants to launch vehicles. Additionally, the Chief Minister sought employment generation under VB-G RAM-G for state rural housing schemes.
