A Gleaming Trajectory
A 10-year vision plan has helped the state maintain exacting standards in development. Tamil Nadu has emerged as the best as well as the most improved state in law and order
In Tamil Nadu, policy support has always fast-tracked reforms. The political uncertainties after ex-chief minister J. Jayalalithaa’s death are now behind it, and the ruling AIADMK government steered by Chief Minister E.K. Palaniswami has kept the state focused on development and growth.
The impressive growth over the years has been backed by excellent social indicators. A skilled workforce is an added advantage. Earlier, investments came without the state chasing them, but now with intense competition from states like Telangana, Tamil
Nadu has had to go in for a makeover. Palaniswami has set an example for leaders in working to raise the state’s profile globally. This year, he went on a two-week tour of the US, UK and UAE to woo investments and help kickstart new businesses. And it came at an apt time, when FDI flow, according to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade data, has dropped 25 per cent and competition increased.
The ‘Vision for Tamil Nadu 2023’ statement aims to make the state India’s most prosperous with zero poverty, and where its people enjoy all the basic services of a modern society and live in harmonious engagement with the environment. Tamil Nadu is the second largest contributor to India’s GDP and only one of eight states that has a higher poverty reduction rate than the all-India average. The state’s per capita income at current prices is Rs 1,50,036 (2016-17), the third highest among large states. The human development index is second among large states and its socioeconomic development status is much higher than the national average. In a population of 72 million, 80 per cent are literate and 48.5 per cent urbanised. Tamil Nadu is an innovation-based economy with a strong presence in
manufacturing and services.
Much of this springs from ex-CM Jayalalithaa’s vision. The Vision Tamil Nadu 2023 document was drafted during her tenure. Among the ambitious outcomes listed in it are ensuring health for all, developing world-class infrastructure, cultivating a healthy investment climate, creating a knowledge capital and innovation hub, nurturing the state’s rich heritage and preserving its ecology, and improving the quality of institutions and governance.
To achieve these aims, Tamil Nadu has adopted multiple strategies. This involves increasing the share of manufacturing in the state’s economy, making MSMEs dynamic, enhancing productivity and innovation in the manufacturing and services sectors, focusing on skill development, improving agricultural productivity, transforming 10 cities into world-class models that become nodes of growth, ensuring inclusive growth through social welfare programmes, undertaking signature projects in education and skill development, improving facilities connected to health, water and sanitation, power, connectivity, and encouraging publicprivate partnerships in infrastructure projects. The state has already initiated work in over 100 of the 217 projects— spread across 13 sectors—identified in the Vision 2023 document. The project has been on since 2012 and involves a decadal investment of Rs 15 lakh crore.
The state police has been given a free hand to ensure maintenance of law and order. Increased financial
allocations have helped improve the staffing, infrastructure and mobility of the force. Welfare measures to ensure better working conditions have led to higher morale.
The highest importance has been accorded to safety of women. Tamil Nadu was the first state to pioneer all-women police stations. The state has the distinction of having the highest proportion of women in the force (30 per cent jobs are reserved for them). It has also introduced ‘Amma patrols’ to ensure women’s safety.
Tamil Nadu is also a popular healthcare destination (reckoned as the best in the country in cadaver organ transplants). In tourism, the state has succeeded in showcasing its rich heritage. The increasing stream of visitors from all over the world is testimony to this. ■