Following the success of the Vazhndhu Kattuvom 2.0 scheme, the Tamil Nadu government will implement the Vazhndhu Kattuvom 3.0 scheme at a cost of ₹1,000 crore, with assistance from the World Bank, in 120 blocks across the State, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin told the Legislative Assembly on Friday (March 28, 2025). While making announcements for the Department of Special Programme Implementation, Poverty Alleviation Programme, and Rural Indebtedness, Mr. Udhayanidhi said the State government will implement a skill development programme to train 42,000 youth to get jobs and become entrepreneurs, at a cost of ₹66 crore. Further, ₹25 crore will be allocated for 2,500 self-help groups (SHG) run by women, tribals, and persons with disabilities, and food festivals will be conducted in five zones across Tamil Nadu. He said the Youth Welfare and Sports Development Department will conduct the 2025 Men’s Hockey Junior World Cup in Chennai and Madurai at a cost of ₹55 crore and the Chief Minister Youth Sports Festival in all the districts of the State at a cost of ₹45 crore. The department will establish Youth Sports Arenas to encourage young talents in futsal and box cricket at ₹19 crore, introduce an insurance scheme for 25,000 sportspersons, build Para Sports Arenas in five districts at ₹7.5 crore, conduct the Asian Surfing and Asian Youth Sailing Championship games, and refurbish infrastructure at the Nehru Stadium in Chennai. Some of the important announcements under the Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Department include establishing a Policy and Governance Experiential Centre, a Economics and Statistics Wing in government departments for evidence-based policy making, a specialised IT unit at the headquarters of the Economics and Statistics Department, modernisation of the department at a cost of ₹2 crore, and capacity building of the department officials at a cost of ₹2.7 crore.