Chennai Super Express

Tamil Nadu featured among the top 10 large states in 11 out of 12 categories; the state’s welfare schemes were key.

- Amarnath K. Menon

A new controversial block-buster, Sarkar, starring popular hero Vijay, seems to suggest that populism has no place in Tamil Nadu. In reality, this is a state that thrives on nurturing its constituents with subsidies and nuanced welfare schemes. While the mid-day meal programme for school children and social security (pension) for the elderly—introduced in the 1980s by the late M.G. Ramachandran, founder of the ruling AIADMK—were pioneering initiatives in the country, the state is now implementing many more, some even borrowed from other states, through 31 government departments.

Offering freebies packaged as welfare goods hit new highs between 2006 and 2016. Both the AIADMK and DMK governments pursued this line keenly to reel in voters. While the DMK (2006-11) distributed 11.6 million free colour television sets (spending Rs 3,687 crore), the AIADMK regime that followed (2011-16) handed out 11.7 million fans, mixies and grinders at a cost of Rs 7,686 crore.