Chennai, March 14 -- The Tamil Nadu Government will construct one lakh new houses under the Kalaignar Kanavu Illam scheme in 2025-26 at a cost of Rs 3,500 crore, Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu told the State Assembly on Friday.

The housing scheme for the rural poor was named after late Chief Minister and DMK Patriarch M Karunanidhi and was launched last year.

Presenting the 2025-26 Budget on the opening day of the session, Mr Thennarasu said the 'Kalaignar Kanavu Illam' (Kalaignar Dream Housing) scheme was launched last year to honour the Muthamizh ArignarKalaignar's compassion for the rural poor living in thatched huts and his vision of creating a hut-free Tamil Nadu.

The scheme was launched with the aim of constructing eight lak...