Tamil Nadu: Calls for Secretariat canteen and structured caste census

In Tamil Nadu, public demand is growing for the establishment of an ‘Amma Unavagam’ (low-cost canteen) at the state Secretariat. Citizens visiting the complex to submit petitions to ministers or the Chief Minister's special cell have noted that existing canteens, such as those run by the Horticulture and Tourism departments, charge standard market prices. Proponents argue that a subsidized canteen would provide essential relief to the large number of underprivileged individuals who wait long periods to meet officials.

Separately, DMK leader M. K. Stalin has called for a caste-based census that includes a specific list of Other Backward Classes (OBC) to prevent data discrepancies. He criticized the central government's proposed ‘open-ended format’ for recording caste details, arguing that allowing users to manually enter names could lead to confusion and inaccurate counts. Stalin emphasized that the census should utilize a pre-determined list of castes from state governments to accurately assess the socio-economic status of OBC communities and inform reservation policies.