Stalin’s Education Schemes Untouchable, Says Udhayanidhi

Tamil Nadu’s Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin issued a fiery warning to political rivals on Thursday, asserting that the DMK government’s transformative education and welfare schemes are so deeply cherished by the public that any attempt to dismantle them would spark a fierce backlash. Speaking at a grand education event in Chennai, Udhayanidhi invoked the legacy of Dravidian icon C.N. Annadurai to underscore the enduring strength of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s initiatives, predicting they will cement his leadership as long as opponents “tremble” at the thought of tampering with them.

Drawing parallels with Annadurai’s historic achievements—renaming the state Tamil Nadu, enforcing a Tamil-English bilingual policy, and legalizing self-respect marriages—Udhayanidhi highlighted the DMK’s modern equivalents: the Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme, Pudhumai Penn, Tamil Pudhalvan, and Naan Mudhalvan programs. “If rivals even think of scrapping these schemes, their hearts will dread the people’s response,” he declared, adapting Annadurai’s words to proclaim that such fear ensures M.K. Stalin’s tenure as chief minister. These initiatives, he argued, have become pillars of social equity and economic mobility, with beneficiaries forming a formidable shield against opposition overreach.

The Breakfast Scheme, feeding children in government and state-aided schools, builds on Tamil Nadu’s pioneering legacy as the first Indian state to introduce mid-day meals in 1920 under the Justice Party. Pudhumai Penn and Tamil Pudhalvan provide ₹1,000 monthly stipends to women and men college students, respectively, while Naan Mudhalvan equips youth with skills, scholarships, and job opportunities, transforming them from job seekers to creators. “Our youth are now job providers,” Udhayanidhi boasted, crediting the scheme’s focus on skill development.

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Beyond education, the DMK’s vision extends to sports, with the Tamil Nadu Champions Foundation, launched in 2023, breaking new ground as India’s first state-backed fund to support athletes financially. Udhayanidhi proudly noted that M.K. Stalin personally donated ₹5 lakh as its inaugural contributor, ensuring financial barriers don’t hinder athletic talent. The initiative’s success has inspired other states, with Punjab’s Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann expressing interest in replicating the breakfast program and Telangana’s Revanth Reddy expected to draw lessons from Tamil Nadu’s education event.

Udhayanidhi’s remarks come as the DMK solidifies its progressive credentials ahead of the 2026 assembly elections, positioning its welfare schemes as non-negotiable. By tying the party’s modern policies to Annadurai’s legacy, he signaled that the DMK’s Dravidian model is not just policy but a movement rooted in public trust. As rival parties, including the AIADMK and BJP, ramp up their campaigns, the deputy chief minister’s speech serves as a defiant challenge: tamper with these schemes at your peril. With Tamil Nadu’s electorate fiercely loyal to programs that deliver tangible benefits, the DMK appears poised to leverage its social investments as a bulwark against political headwinds.

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