CM Stalin Chairs Economic Advisory Council Meeting, Sets Vision for $1 Trillion Economy

Chief Minister’s Office in Tamil Nadu, he addressed the Economic Advisory Council meeting for our government.

Professor Raghuram Rajan,
Professor Esther Duflo,
Professor Jean Dreze,
Dr. Arvind Subramanian,
Dr. S. Narayan,
Honorable Minister of Finance, Environment, and Climate Change, Mr. Thangam Thennarasu,
Secretaries of the Government of Tamil Nadu,
Chief Secretary of the Finance Department,
My greetings to you all!

With our government’s next budget to be presented on March 14, I am delighted to participate in this important Economic Advisory Council meeting and listen to all your views.

For the past three years, you have provided valuable consultations in shaping the government’s economic policies and welfare programs, and I extend my gratitude to all of you!

In previous meetings of this Economic Advisory Council, you have suggested various ideas to ensure financial stability in a developing Tamil Nadu. Several programs implemented based on these recommendations have received a positive response from the public!

Under the “Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam” (Kalaignar Women’s Rights Scheme), 14.59 lakh eligible women-headed families have been provided ₹1,000 per month as financial assistance, ensuring women’s empowerment and economic rights. The transparent and data-driven selection of beneficiaries has been widely appreciated by all!

The “Pudhumai Penn” (Modern Woman) Scheme provides ₹1,000 per month to girl students from Class 6 to Class 12 in government schools, reducing dropout rates and improving access to higher education.

The “Naan Mudhalvan” (I Am the Leader) Scheme has trained youth with necessary skills for employment, benefitting about 2.6 lakh students and creating job opportunities. Tamil Nadu is leading other Indian states in these efforts.

The “Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme,” benefiting 17.53 lakh students, has enhanced school attendance, improved nutrition, and boosted learning outcomes.

As I mentioned earlier, the “Vidiyal Payanam” (Journey to Dawn) Scheme has created a supportive environment for women’s safety and strengthened their financial independence.

The “Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam” (Healthcare at People’s Doorstep) Scheme in the healthcare sector and the “Illam Thedi Kalvi” (Education at Home) Scheme in the education sector have gained recognition not just at the national level but also internationally.

With such numerous social welfare initiatives in place, we aim to drive Tamil Nadu’s economic growth forward, with a vision to become a $1 trillion economy by 2030. Over the past four years, nearly 40 lakh (4 million) employment opportunities have been created.

Tamil Nadu has long been a leader in automobile manufacturing, textile production, and leather goods industries. Beyond these, we have now prioritized non-leather footwear manufacturing, renewable energy production, and global skill development centers as new avenues of growth. These industries have attracted significant investments at the national level. Various infrastructural projects are also being implemented for industrial growth.

As I have stated before, the foundation for the seamless execution of welfare schemes and infrastructure projects has been laid with the necessary financial measures.

Recently, Tamil Nadu submitted a petition to the 16th Finance Commission of the Union Government regarding the fair distribution of funds for developing states. We expect this Finance Commission to adopt an equitable approach.

The pension reforms proposed by the Union Government that affect the financial policies of state governments are under review.

In this context, I look forward to your expert opinions and recommendations to take Tamil Nadu’s progress to the next level.

I request you to assess the impact of our government’s initiatives over the past three years and provide valuable insights to make our future policies even more progressive.

I once again express my gratitude for your continuous support in Tamil Nadu’s social and economic development.

Thank you! Greetings!