Ten Nagaland Civil Service (Probationers) started their Bharat Darshan Attachment at Anna Administrative Staff College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu on October 26. The five-day attachment began with various line departments such as Agriculture, Social Welfare and Women Development, and Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department, highlighting the various functions and activities of the departments.
The best practices of each department were highlighted during the classes, which can be replicated by the Probationers once they are posted in the field. Tamil Nadu is one of the best-performing states when it comes to the VB-G RAM G (formerly MGNREGA). Some of the major works undertaken under the scheme are farm ponds, check dams, plantations and nurseries.
Tamil Nadu has also successfully managed to converge various schemes and programmes with VB GRAM G, including the Finance Commission Grants and MPLADS. The Agriculture Department also showcased its best practices with the Uzhavar portal, which caters to all the needs of the farmers through a streamlined digital website for fertiliser purchase, profile of Agri officers in their respective blocks, and Soil Health Cards, which help the farmers to know the condition of the soil and the crops suitable for plantation in their fields.
Tamil Nadu has also implemented several state-sponsored welfare initiatives under the Department of Social Welfare and Women Empowerment targeting various vulnerable sections of society. Among these, the Pudhumai Penn Scheme provides financial security to female higher-education students by depositing ₹1,000 monthly for girls (and extended to transgender students) who attended government schools from Classes 6 to 12.
Download Nagaland Tribune app on Google Play
To address severe gender-based vulnerabilities, the Cradle Baby Scheme (Thottil Kuzhandhai Thittam) allows parents to safely and anonymously surrender unwanted infant girls at designated state centres to eradicate female infanticide and ensure legal adoption. Social inclusion for sexual minorities is addressed through dedicated Transgender Welfare Budget allocations, which fund targeted skill-training, educational access (including Pudhumai Penn benefits), and socio-economic rehabilitation. Finally, for elder care, the government launched Anbucholai Day-Care Centres across municipal corporations, providing senior citizens—particularly from working-class families—with nutritious daytime meals, basic healthcare, physiotherapy, and recreational engagement.
Overall, the NCS (Probationers) were exposed to a vast array of ideas which can be replicated in the state with modifications which will cater to the needs of the local population. With the end of day one, the officer trainees now move to a different district for experiential learning on the best rural development practices.
After the Tamil Nadu leg of the tour, the officer trainees will subsequently undertake similar one-week attachments at the Yaswantrao Chavan Academy of Development Administration (YASAHADA) in Pune, Maharashtra and New Delhi.
