The Dravidian Transformative Journey

J Jayaranjan, Vice Chairman, State Planning Commission, delves into the transformative journey of Tamil Nadu over the past century in this insightful interview. He also speaks about the pivotal role played by education and economic reforms in reshaping the state's landscape. Through a historical lens, the economist sheds light on the policies and initiatives that have contributed to Tamil Nadu's remarkable growth, positioning it as a frontrunner in social and economic progress in the country.

Tamil Nadu has undergone significant growth in the last half-century. How did this transformation occur? Can it be attributed to the Dravidian parties coming to power?

In November 1916, the South Indian Liberal Federation came out with a Non-Brahmin Manifesto, highlighting education as a crucial tool for improving life. Subsequently, efforts were consistently made in this direction whenever an opportunity arose. During British rule, there was a period of dyarchy, during which educational and healthcare initiatives were undertaken within the limits of that authority. However, the transformative growth occurred rapidly after the Dravidian parties came to power in 1967. This is not to say that there were no developments before 1967. For instance, when C. Rajagopalachari, the Chief Minister at the time, reduced the number of schools, his successor Kamaraj reopened them. Two initiatives of Kamaraj in school education were particularly noteworthy. He decentralized schools, taking them to rural areas. He also provided state aid to private schools in areas where the government could not set up schools. The private schools were converted into government-aided schools.

He also introduced the midday meal scheme, which significantly increased student enrolment. However, the issue of dropouts persisted for a long time, with significant dropout rates among girls in rural areas and among boys in certain stages. It was a problem that persisted till the 1990s. To address this, the government introduced the marriage assistance scheme, offering financial aid to girls who completed eighth grade, which incentivized parents to educate their daughters. This scheme was later extended to include education up to the tenth grade, resulting in a drastic reduction in dropout rates. Nowadays, dropouts are rare and mostly due to unavoidable circumstances like migration, as schools closely monitor student attendance.