Coimbatore corporation planning to open two Mudhalvar Padaippagams, one more Knowledge Centre

Coimbatore: The Coimbatore Corporation has decided to establish two Mudhalvar Padaippagams (co-working space and learning centre) and an additional Knowledge and Study Centre in the city. This decision follows an overwhelming response the Knowledge and Centre in Addis Street has got from students and job seekers.

Corporation Commissioner M Sivaguru Prabhakaran told TOI that the Mudhalvar Padaippagams would be established with 50% of funding from the state govt. The remaining 50% of funding would be borne by the civic body.

"The plan to establish Mudhalvar Padaippagams has received only verbal approval so far, and the availability of the land for these centres is yet to be determined," he said.

"One more Knowledge and Study Centre, similar to the one in Addis Street, will be developed from the corporation's general fund," he said.

The corporation has allocated ₹3.5 crore for the new knowledge centre in the 2025-26 budget, which is tentatively planned to be developed in the North Zone.

Around 16 students, who used the Knowledge and Study Centre in Addis Street, have passed TNPSC Group 4 exams, according to sources. The centre was opened in January 2024.

Knowledge and Study Centre in-charge Stephen Raj told TOI: "Many of those preparing for exams are from other cities and not natives of Coimbatore. This has made it challenging to track the actual number of people who have cleared various service exams. To tackle this, we are planning to issue ID cards to monitor their exam progress."

The commissioner said the Transformative Training Programme initiative had aided many local innovators in becoming emerging entrepreneurs, equipped with viable business models and access to significant funding opportunities.

He said one attendee had secured a NIDHI PRAYAS grant of ₹10,00,000 for prototype development, along with additional funding through the EIR (entrepreneur in residence) – GENESIS Grant of ₹7,00,000 and the Innovation Voucher Programme of ₹2,00,000. Similarly, another innovative approach to sustainable packaging was selected for the NIDHI PRAYAS grant programme while being incubated at TNAU-TBI (Tamil Nadu Agricultural University - Technology Business Incubator). "Therefore, establishing an additional centre could attract more beneficiaries," he added.