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).

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 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.