Overview
Agal Vilakku Scheme: The Tamil Nadu government launched the Agal Vilakku scheme to enhance the safety and well-being of girl students in Classes IX to XII. The initiative was inaugurated by School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi at the Government Girls Higher Secondary School in Keeramangalam, Pudukkottai. The scheme emphasises protection from mental, physical, social, and digital threats.
Static GK fact: Tamil Nadu’s Dr Muthulakshmi Reddy — the first woman doctor in India — was born in Pudukkottai, linking the scheme’s launch locale to a legacy of women’s empowerment.
Key Components
A committee of female teachers and students will be established in each higher secondary school to pinpoint issues and propose solutions for girl students.
Psychological counselling will be part of the scheme, providing mental and emotional support.
Teachers will receive specialised training through the District Institute of Education and Training on safe internet practices and cyber-awareness.
Awareness booklets, prepared by the State Council of Educational Research and Training, were distributed to all students at launch. The state has allocated ₹50 lakh for implementing this in all higher secondary schools.
Significance
The programme unfolds in six structured modules over six weeks, the first of its kind in the state.
The minister highlighted balanced usage of technology—advocating caution in online interactions while preserving cultural identity and values.
Launching the scheme in Pudukkottai, the birthplace of the pioneering Dr Muthulakshmi Reddy, adds symbolic depth — connecting present-day initiatives to historical strides in women’s education.
Static GK tip: Dr Muthulakshmi Reddy founded India’s first women’s university-level college—Avvai Home Primary School in 1909 and Women’s Indian Association—laying foundations for women’s education in Tamil Nadu.
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
Agal Vilakku Scheme:
| Topic | Detail |
| Scheme Name | Agal Vilakku |
| Launch Location | Keeramangalam GHSS, Pudukkottai |
| Target Group | Girl students, Classes IX–XII |
| Financial Allocation | ₹50 lakh for statewide implementation |
| Support Structures | Teacher–student committees, counselling, awareness materials |
| Focus Areas | Mental, physical, social well-being; cyber safety |
| Implementation Model | Six-week, six-module programme |
| Symbolic Significance | Launch at birthplace of Dr Muthulakshmi Reddy |
