Thu Jan 01 15:11:44 UTC 2026: Okay, here’s a news article summarizing the provided text:

Kallakurichi Launches Village Startup Communities Under ‘Gramam Thorum Puthozhil’ Scheme

KALLAKURICHI, TAMIL NADU – January 1, 2026 – The Kallakurichi district administration launched village startup communities in Sathanur and Naranampatti on Wednesday, marking the local implementation of Tamil Nadu’s ambitious ‘Gramam Thorum Puthozhil’ scheme.

Collector M.S. Prasanth spearheaded the initiative, emphasizing its focus on fostering sustainable economic development in rural areas. The program aims to build a robust rural innovation ecosystem by empowering youth, women, and persons with disabilities. Key components include support for ideation, prototyping, and mentorship for early-stage entrepreneurs.

‘Gramam Thorum Puthozhil’ strives to connect startups from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities with major corporate entities, expanding market access and mentorship opportunities. The statewide initiative seeks to cultivate 100 startups across 100 villages, effectively bridging the rural-urban divide in innovation and entrepreneurship.

In Kallakurichi, selected beneficiaries from the two villages will receive support based on their skills and business development potential. The program will provide one promising venture from each village with a TANSEED grant of ₹1 lakh (equity-free) to accelerate prototype development and early market access.

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