CSR initiatives invited to support growth of underdeveloped blocks in western Tamil Nadu

The Coimbatore district administration and the Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission organised a Regional Convergence Conclave in Coimbatore on Wednesday to mobilise corporate social responsibility contributions for nine blocks identified under the Focus Blocks Development Programme across eight districts. District Collector Pavankumar G. Giriyappanavar, who chairs the FBDP District Committee, said the initiative aims to identify blocks that require additional government support while integrating the current departmental schemes to enhance public infrastructure and improve the living standards of economically weaker households. The nine underdeveloped blocks, located across Coimbatore, Erode, Namakkal, Salem, Tiruppur, the Nilgiris, Krishnagiri, and Dharmapuri districts, were selected based on their performance in key development indicators. R. Srinivasan, a full-time member of the State Planning Commission, explained that under the FBDP, 50 KDIs with 106 sub-indicators are used to assess development across seven themes: health, social welfare, education, skill development and employment, agriculture and allied activities, economic development, and infrastructure.