Minister inaugurates community baby shower for pregnant women, launches new infrastructures

A community baby shower ceremony for pregnant women was held here on Wednesday at the Ilayangudi Panchayat Union office.

Minister for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) P. Mathan Raja inaugurated the programme and distributed traditional ‘seemantham’ articles and gifts comprising seven varieties to expectant mothers.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Mathan Raja highlighted the critical importance of maternal health, nutritious diets, regular medical check-ups, and family support during pregnancy. He noted that the community baby shower is designed not only to provide nutritional support and gifts, but also to bring joy, mental well-being, and a sense of shared celebration of motherhood.

As part of this welfare initiative, the district administration has planned to conduct community baby shower ceremonies for a total of 1,100 pregnant women—at the rate of 100 beneficiaries across each of the 11 taluks in the district. Officials emphasised that nurturing maternal health and instilling positive values from early childhood helps build a strong foundation for the younger generation.

District Collector M. Sivaguru Prabhakaran, among other officials were present during the event.

Following, Mr. Mathan Raja inaugurated a series of newly-constructed school buildings, government offices, and public welfare facilities across the district on Wednesday. District Collector M.S. Prasanth was present during the events.

Among the key educational infrastructure projects inaugurated were an 11-classroom building at the Kallal Government Girls Higher Secondary School built at a cost of ₹2.59 crore, a 10-classroom building equipped with restrooms and drinking water facilities at the Pudukulam Government Girls Higher Secondary School costing ₹2.49 crore, and new classroom blocks at government schools in Thahiraakkottai, Ramanathapuram, and Pethalatchi.

Additionally, new administrative and public utility assets were opened to the public. These include a combined revenue village officer office and residential building in Perurani worth ₹35 lakh, a new Commercial Taxes Department office building in Parakkalai worth ₹1.38 crore, a fair-price shop, and a water purification plant in Irattiamoorchi village costing ₹7 lakh.

Expanding welfare infrastructure for women and children, the Minister also inaugurated six newly built Anganwadi centres established across different panchayat unions at a total cost of ₹89.26 lakh.