Startup communities launched at two villages in Erode district

Collector S. Kandasamy on Wednesday (January 21, 2026) launched the village startup communities at Thandampalayam and Annamalai Kottai villages under the State Government’s “Gramam Thorum Puthozhil” (Establishing Startups in Every Village).

The initiative aims to promote rural entrepreneurship, generate local employment and ensure sustainable economic growth at the grass roots level.

Speaking on the occasion, the Collector highlighted that the scheme is part of the State government’s broader efforts to strengthen the startup ecosystem across Tamil Nadu. Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has announced initiatives, including the Tamil Nadu Space Tech Fund (₹10 crore), Startup Grant Fund for Persons with Disabilities and Transgender Persons, T.N. SC/ST Startup Fund, Tamil Nadu Startup Seed Fund (TANSEED) and the Tamil Nadu Co-Creation Fund (₹100 crore). Tamil Nadu currently ranks among India’s leading startup States with more than 12,000 startups recognised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and has recently received the award for “Best Performing State” in the State Startup Rankings.

Reflecting this growth at the district level, the number of DPIIT-recognised startups in Erode district has increased from 21 in 2020 to over 203 by 2025, marking a more than tenfold rise. The scheme is being implemented to extend the startup movement to rural areas by encouraging local entrepreneurs and fostering sustainable livelihoods.

Startup Scheme Coordinator Gopinath, Principal of K.S.R. Engineering College M. Venkatesan, were among those present at the event.