Social Justice Archive

IT RevolutionFor Progressive Tamil Nadu

From India's first IT textbook (1975) to TIDEL Parks across every district (2026) — with dates, costs, and data.

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1975Kalaignar Era

'Computer and Their Uses' — First School Textbook on Computers in India

Tamil Nadu Textbook Society publishes India's first school-level computer book

1975: Tamil Nadu Textbook Society (founded under Kalaignar) published 'Computer and Their Uses'
First state in India to introduce computers as a formal school subject
At this time, computers were not present in most government offices in India
Kalaignar's vision: 'This knowledge is going to be a symbol of our future'
Established Tamil Nadu's head-start in producing computer-literate graduates

4 Sep 1978Kalaignar Era

Anna University Founded

Named after Perarignar Anna; premier engineering & technology university

1997Kalaignar Era

India's First State-Level IT Policy — Tamil Nadu 1997

Tamil Nadu was the first Indian state to announce a dedicated IT policy

1997Kalaignar Era

TIDEL Park Ltd. Incorporated — Joint Venture TIDCO + ELCOT

Company formed to build what would become one of Asia's largest IT parks

21 Aug 1998Kalaignar Era

TIDEL Park — Foundation Stone Laid by Kalaignar

₹292 crore project; 13-storey, 1.2 million sq ft — in Taramani, Chennai

1999Kalaignar Era

Computer Centres in 666 Government Higher Secondary Schools

1999–2000 budget also introduces computer science stream in Classes 11 & 12

4 Jul 2000Kalaignar Era

TIDEL Park Chennai Inaugurated

One of Asia's first and largest IT parks — 100% occupancy from opening

8 Aug 2006Kalaignar Era

TIDEL Park Coimbatore — ELCOT Concept Approved

First TIDEL Park outside Chennai; expanding IT to Tier-2 cities

2006–11Kalaignar Era

Nokia & Foxconn Manufacturing — IT/Electronics Industry Growth

Kalaignar's 5th term attracts global tech manufacturers to Tamil Nadu

2006–11Kalaignar Era

IT Department Formalised — Separate Ministry for IT

Tamil Nadu establishes dedicated IT ministry during Kalaignar's 5th term

7 May 2021M.K. Stalin Era

Dravidian Model — IT Decentralisation as Core Policy

M.K. Stalin commits from Day 1 to taking IT infrastructure beyond Chennai

2022M.K. Stalin Era

Naan Mudhalvan — Skill Development Scheme for Youth

IT, coding, cloud, AI, and vocational skilling at scale across Tamil Nadu

Nov 5, 2025M.K. Stalin Era

TIDEL Neo Park Vellore — Inaugurated Virtually by M.K. Stalin

Part of campaign to put IT parks in every district by 2030

22 Nov 2024M.K. Stalin Era

TIDEL Park Pattabiram Inaugurated — 21 Storeys

₹330 crore; 5.57 lakh sq ft; 6,000 jobs; 3rd large TIDEL Park in Tamil Nadu

31 Jan 2026M.K. Stalin Era

Mini TIDEL Park Karaikudi Inaugurated — ₹28 Crore

600 IT jobs in Sivaganga district — deepest penetration into rural Tamil Nadu

18 Feb 2025M.K. Stalin Era

Foundation Stones — TIDEL Parks Madurai & Tiruchirappalli

Combined ₹717 crore investment; 12,000 jobs in South & Central Tamil Nadu

2021–26M.K. Stalin Era

Global Investors Meet — Tamil Nadu as Investment Destination

M.K. Stalin government attracts tech giants with ₹6.6 lakh crore in MOUs

2021–26M.K. Stalin Era

TIDEL Neo Parks + Naan Mudhalvan — Integrated Job Pipeline

Infrastructure built; youth trained locally; jobs filled locally