T.N. frontrunner in providing education to girls: Stalin on ‘Pudumai Penn’ scheme

The ‘Pudumai Penn’ scheme was not one of DMK’s promises when it was campaigning for the 2021 Assembly elections; but after coming to power, the Tamil Nadu government implemented it regardless in the larger interest of girl children, said Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Monday (December 30, 2024).

Mr. Stalin was speaking at a function at Kamaraj College in Thoothukudi, during which he distributed cheques under the ‘Pudumai Penn’ scheme to girl children – which extends ₹1,000 per month to girls from classes 6 to 12 in government aided schools so they can pursue higher education in any discipline.

Referring to girl students as “achievers of tomorrow,” the Chief Minister said Tamil Nadu was a frontrunner in providing education to girls and many States were following in the Dravidian model. Be it employment, higher education, or research, women from Tamil Nadu were at the top, nationally, he said.

‘A social revolution’

“A man entering higher education reflects academic growth, while a woman entering college or pursuing research means a social revolution,” he said.

Taking a dig at Hindu nationalists, who, according to Mr. Stalin, had created confusion and caused hurdles for providing education to women, he said that the DMK would never allow such intrusions. The DMK, which is driven by the ideologies of Periyar, Anna, and Kalaignar (Karunanidhi), will strive hard for women empowerment, he said.

Almost over a century ago, the Justice Party spearheaded the movement to give education for all. Subsequently, many people learned to read, write, and affix their signature. When Kamarajar was Chief Minister, more educational institutions were opened and C.N. Annadurai enhanced it in the State, he said.

Later, during Kalaignar Karunanidhi’s leadership, the government (1969-75) opened up 97 government arts and science colleges in the State. There has been no looking back since, Mr. Stalin said, adding that exclusive universities were established for medicine, law, agriculture, animal husbandry, and so on.

Free travel scheme

Owing to the high number of working women in Tamil Nadu, the government had decided to offer free travel to them in government buses. Over the last couple of years, 567 crore women had benefited from the scheme across the State.

Assuring support to marginalised sections, Mr. Stalin said that despite obstacles posed by the Opposition party (AIADMK) and the non-cooperation by the Union government (BJP), the DMK would continue to implement such people-friendly programmes.

By giving higher education to women, social evils like child marriage would come down, and women would be empowered, he said. Many girls, who had discontinued their education after finishing school, had come forward to pursue higher education, thanks to the government’s ‘Pudumai Penn’ scheme, he added.

‘My responsibility’

“The Pudumai Penn scheme may cost huge sums to the exchequer, but as a parent in a household would be eager to give education to their child, it is my responsibility to provide education to you all,” he said.

Concluding his 20-minute address and wishing a happy new year in advance to the beneficiaries, the CM appealed to them to engage themselves in the dissemination of knowledge to society instead of being confined by it.

He also said a degree was not enough. “Keep studying as much as possible. Opportunities are aplenty across the globe. Bring laurels to your home and Tamil Nadu,” he said.

Chief Secretary N. Muruganandam, Ministers Geetha Jeevan, Anitha Radhakrishnan, and Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, MP Kanimozhi, Thoothukudi District Collector K. Elambahavath, and other officials participated in the event.