As per the RBI Handbook on Statistics of States, Tamil Nadu doubled its economy in a decade from a GSDP of Rs. 14.6 lakh crore in 2017–18 to Rs. 31.18 lakh crore in 2024–25. It is second among all states in GSDP, next to Maharashtra. It was at the bottom two when we got independence.
Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) has reached 56%, double the national average for college-level enrolment.
Average life expectancy has increased from 69.8 years in 2018–22 to 73.4 years in 2019–23.
The birth rate has come down to 12 births per 1,000 in 2023 due to long years of family planning awareness.
In action taken against atrocities against SC/ST, Tamil Nadu stands first among all states.
Every district in Tamil Nadu has one medical college, one engineering college, one arts & science college, one polytechnic, and one ITI run by the government, which is unique among all states.
There are more than 23,000 government schools and 8,400 aided schools where 85 lakh children are studying. Last year alone, 1,99,547 students enrolled in Class I in government schools.
There is 7.5% reservation for professional courses for students from government schools. The school infrastructure is good; smart boards are provided and the internet is available.
The literacy rate now is 91%. Women’s participation in factories is 43% in manufacturing, the highest among all states. Tamil Nadu produces 47% of leather, 42% of automobiles & components, and 42% of electronic goods in the country. It has 20 types of industries across the state.
Education has been the foundation for all the development parameters. This was followed by social interventions and welfare. Let’s see how all this was achieved.
The Justice Party was formed in 1916. From 1920 to 1936, it was in power under the Madras Presidency.
In 1920, it passed the Madras Elementary Education Act, 1920. In 1921, it gave voting rights to women. In 1924, it abolished the Devadasi system. In 1925, Andhra University was formed; in 1929, Annamalai University was formed. Sanskrit was removed as a prerequisite for medical education. Non-Brahmins were allowed to enter medical education. Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy became a reformer. The midday meal scheme was introduced in a few schools, the pioneer in it. Adi Dravidars were provided access to roads, wells, and restaurants. In 1931, 3,40,000 acres of Panchami lands were distributed to Adi Dravidars. The Hindu Religious Endowment Act was passed. The Staff Selection Board was started in 1924, which later became the Public Service Commission in 1929.
In 1944, E.V. Ramasamy (Periyar) started Dravidar Kazhagam from the Justice Party. He focused on rationalism, anti-casteism, women’s rights, equal rights for women in marriage, inheritance, productivity, and started cooperatives.
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) was started from DK by Dr. C.N. Annadurai in 1949 but entered elections in 1954, where it won 10 seats. With the inheritance of the independence movement, the Indian National Congress came to power in 1952, and C. Rajagopalachari was the CM. In 1954, K. Kamaraj became CM and continued up to 1963.
He improved the literacy rate from 7% to 37%. He started around 30,000 schools, abolished the hereditary education policy of Rajaji, and provided free uniforms to schoolchildren. The noon meal scheme became famous during his period.
Kamaraj is lauded for bringing IIT Madras, BHEL, NLC, Lower Bhavani Canal, Mettur Canal, Vaigai Dam, Malampuzha Dam, and rural electrification.
Dr. Annadurai of DMK became Chief Minister in 1967. He focused on Tamil identity and the two-language formula in education, which has given better job opportunities. He introduced subsidized rice for the poor. He allowed and encouraged self-respect marriages. His focus was on social justice and social reforms. He provided gold for intercaste marriages. Free education was provided up to school level. In 1969, he renamed Madras State as Tamil Nadu.
Karunanidhi has served the longest term as CM (1969–71, 1971–1976, 1989–1991, 1996–2001, 2006–2011), with breaks as seen.
He is credited with providing 33% reservation for women, creation of welfare boards (now 21), abolition of hand-held rickshaws, abolition of beggary, creation of SIPCOTs, encouraging self-help groups, fighting for federal rights of states, etc.
He amended the Tamil Nadu Agricultural Labourers’ Fair Wages Act, 1969; amended the Tamil Nadu Land Ceiling Act, 1961, reducing maximum landholding to 15 acres from 30. Acquired land was given to landless labourers. In 1969, the village electrification scheme was started by him.
He encouraged textiles by forming the B.S. Loganathan Committee and implementing its recommendations.
He set up the P.V. Rajamannar Commission in 1969 to study Centre–State relations and set up the Tamil Nadu Police Commission.
The Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board was set up in 1970, which has done tremendous work. He established the International Institute of Tamil Research in 1970.
He constituted the first State Planning Commission in Tamil Nadu on 25 May 1971, which was the first in India and continues.
In 1972, he established the Agricultural Engineering College and Research Institute at Coimbatore—the first in South India.
In 1973, the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation was started and direct procurement from farmers began, which continues.
The Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar Housing & Development Corporation was established in 1974.
In 1970, a law was introduced to permit any caste person to become a Hindu priest.
The Tamil Nadu Traders Welfare Board was started in 1989. In 1989, the first Veterinary & Animal Sciences University was started at Chennai—the first in Asia.
In 1990, free electricity for farmers was started. In 1997, the first law university in India was established in the name of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Samacheerpuram, where all castes coexist, was a model scheme where 40 houses for Adi Dravidars, 25 for MBC, 25 for BC, and 10 for others were constructed by the government.
During his tenure, a comprehensive IT policy was started, the first state to do it.
Farmers’ markets were started during his time. In 2000, TIDEL Park was started (by TIDCO & ELCOT).
The All Village Renaissance Scheme was started in 2006.
The Disabled Welfare Board in 2007 and the Third Gender Welfare Board in 2008 were started.
In 2006, the common entrance test for medical and engineering was abolished.
Value Added Tax was introduced in 2007.
The Tamil Nadu Protection of Tanks and Eviction of Encroachment Act was passed in 2007. There are many more. He was a visionary and listened to his advisers and officers.
Dr. Amartya Sen and Dr. Jean Drèze have described the development of Tamil Nadu as similar to that of many European countries.
During his tenure as CM, Mr. M.G. Ramachandran made the noon meal scheme into a nutritious meal scheme, provided free textbooks to girls, and free electricity to poor households.
Ms. J. Jayalalithaa provided free laptops, grinders, fans, gold for marriage, baby care kits, Anna Water, Anna Pharmacy, Amma Canteen, cradle baby scheme, etc.
The present CM has focused on investment for industries, education, employment, etc.
Tamil Nadu Investment Council, Skill Development Council, and Single Window Clearance are very useful. For women: free bus scheme, Women’s Rights Fund (Rs. 1,000 per month), Rs. 3,000 per family for Pongal, the harvest festival, with a gift hamper of rice, sugar, jaggery, sugarcane, saree, dhoti, etc.
Mission Nature; Let’s Protect Our Soil; Scheme for Protection of Schoolgirls (Akal Vilakku Thittam); teaching app for school students; TN Aptitude Test Scheme; TN SC/ST Entrepreneurship Scheme; CM’s Village Roads Scheme; scheme for welfare of government medical students; scheme for attracting students to maths & science; accident-free roads schemes; nutrition allowance for TB patients; You Are Your Own King scheme; Our School, Shining School; development of government schools by alumni; livelihood and residence development scheme; Police Akka (sister) scheme; CM with People scheme (grievance redressal); Let’s Work & Remain Healthy; NEEDS scheme for entrepreneurs; I Am First (skill development for school/college students); scheme to rescue 5 lakh poorest from poverty; incentive for students at school; financial assistance to girls for UG education; scheme for tribals; delivery of services at villages; Comrades Hostel for Girls; scheme to protect girls from sexual harassment; model school scheme; Are You Healthy? scheme; Smile scheme for dental care; Let’s Protect Before It Strikes scheme; Health for You at Home, etc. There are 56 schemes for every need.
So Tamil Nadu has focused on education, dignity, social justice, equality, equity, farmer care, MSMEs, and employment. Today it has reached second among states in GSDP, and poverty, which was 69% in 1956, has become almost nil. Tamil Nadu provides 35 kg of rice/wheat to the poor and 15 kg to all those who want it, free of cost.
Welfare is not freebies; they are entitlements. If the same continues, Tamil Nadu will become one of the happiest states, similar to Finland, Denmark, Sweden, etc., which are happy countries, and may even supersede developed nations.
Thomas Franco is the former General Secretary of All India Bank Officers’ Confederation and a Steering Committee Member at the Global Labour University.
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