NITI Aayog meet: Ramadoss urges TN CM to press Centre on funds

Ahead of Thursday's NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting in Delhi, PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to press the Centre on a slate of financial demands. Vijay is on a three-day visit to the capital for the meeting, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs and which brings together chief ministers from across the states.

"Tamil Nadu is a leading contributor to India's economic growth," Ramadoss said in a statement. "The state provides significant revenue across sectors including industry, education, health, IT, manufacturing, and exports. It is essential that Tamil Nadu receives its fair share of financial allocations and priority in development schemes."

His list of demands includes a reassessment of the per-capita grant allocation method in favor of one based on development indicators and each state's economic contribution. He also called for increased central funding for education – new schools, higher education institutions, research centers, and skill-development hubs – and a special funding package to upgrade public hospitals, medical colleges, district health centers, and medical infrastructure.