Tamil Nadu’s budget for the fiscal year 2024-25, presented by Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu, has come under sharp criticism for its emphasis on renaming central schemes and offering more sops for minorities. The budget, themed “Crossing Obstacles and Marching Towards Growth,” projects the state’s debt to surpass Rs 8,33,361.80 crores.
Critics argue that the budget lacks substantive financial considerations, burdening citizens with increased debt while failing to introduce meaningful welfare schemes. The widespread criticism targets the practice of renaming central government schemes, seen as an attempt to rebrand existing initiatives without addressing fundamental concerns.
The fiscal deficit has surpassed the planned figure, inching close to the fiscal responsibility limit of 3.5 per cent. Currently, the state is facing financial strain, with outstanding debt crossing Rs 8 lakh crore.
A notable concern is the escalation of the revenue deficit, which has surged to Rs 49,279 crore for the fiscal year 2024-25, surpassing the revised estimate of Rs 44,907 crore in 2023-24. It’s crucial to highlight that the revised estimate for the previous fiscal year has also exceeded the budgeted figure of Rs 37,540 crore.
Adding to the financial strain is the mandatory allocation of Rs 17,117 crore for loss funding to TANGEDCO in the current year. This imposes a considerable burden on the state’s financial capacity to fund developmental initiatives. In response, the government has sought relief by appealing to the Union Government to exclude this amount from the state’s Fiscal Deficit and Borrowing Ceiling.
Moreover, allocations have been made for the rejuvenation of the Adyar River, with a budget of Rs 1,500 crores. Interestingly, a similar commitment was made in the previous year’s budget under the ‘one-river one-operator’ project. This initiative is envisioned as a public-private partnership under the auspices of the Chennai Rivers Restoration Trust.
Tamil Nadu BJP chief Annamalai criticised the government, pointing out discrepancies in budgetary allocations and implementation. He highlighted instances where the DMK government had renamed central government schemes in the state budget, presenting them as original initiatives. Examples include the POSHAN scheme rebranded as ‘Ensure Nutrition’ and the Prime Minister’s Rural Road Scheme renamed the Chief Minister’s Rural Road Scheme. Annamalai argued that such actions misled the public by not acknowledging the central government’s contributions to these programmes.
மத்திய அரசின் திட்டங்களை டப்பிங் செய்து வெளியிட்ட திமுகவின் நிதிநிலை அறிக்கை.
(1/2) pic.twitter.com/9hTYiBKWF2
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) February 19, 2024
The netizens denounced the budget that has been formulated by the incumbent government of Tamil Nadu.
எல்லா ஆண்டும் திமுக ஆட்சியில் இருக்கிறது மாறாத ஒன்று. ஆனால் இந்த நிலை மாறவில்லை ஆனால் அவர்கள் குடும்பம் நிலை மாறிவிட்டது எல்லா பணத்தையும் என்னதான் பண்ணுனாங்களோ திருட்டு திராவிடியாக கும்பல் மக்கள்தான் எச்சரிக்கையாக இருக்க வேண்டும் pic.twitter.com/00d2dfBIuH
— SILAMBUyadav( மோடியின் குடும்பம் ❤️ (@silambuyadav56) February 19, 2024
The recently presented Tamil Nadu state budget has come under sharp criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with TN BJP chief Annamalai characterizing it as “unimaginative” and accusing the government of replicating Central Government schemes with mere name changes.
VIDEO | Here’s what Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai (@annamalai_k) said on the Budget presented in the State Assembly on Monday.
“We all know that the Tamil Nadu government is unimaginative. This budget clearly shows us how the thinking of the government is shaping governance.… pic.twitter.com/Y6jGplFPnb
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 20, 2024
Taking a dig at DMK leaders, TN BJP’s social media head Karthik Gopinath referred to a controversial past action, stating, “Your father bred crocodiles in the Coovum river (now a sewer). Are you going to follow your father’s footsteps to breed crocs in the Adyar river too?”
உங்க அப்பா கூவத்தில் முதலை வளர்த்தார்.
நீங்கள் அடையாறில் முதலை வளர்க்கிறீர்களா முதல்வர் @mkstalin அவர்களே..?#Dubakoor_Dmk_Budget pic.twitter.com/enGlZWgZw0— karthik gopinath (@karthikgnath) February 19, 2024
1/n reasons to call this #Dubakoor_Dmk_Budget! pic.twitter.com/l9JQphumqA
— karthik gopinath (@karthikgnath) February 19, 2024
One particular allocation that sparked public outcry was the provision of Rs 20 crore for the sterilization of stray dogs. In the previous year’s budget (2023), the MK Stalin-led government allocated Rs 10 crore for addressing the stray dog menace. Despite this allocation, the stray dog population has reportedly increased, with Chennai alone housing nearly 1.5 lakh stray dogs, as mentioned by J Radhakrishnan, Additional Chief Secretary/Commissioner, Greater Chennai Corporation.
Netizens expressed their skepticism and criticism by sharing videos of the Finance Minister’s speeches in the state legislative assembly, highlighting the continued stray dog issue despite the budgetary allocation made in the previous year. This led to online mockery, with comments labeling DMK as the “first government to allocate Rs. 20 crores for dog sterilization in the world.”
2023 :- தெரு நாய் இனப்பெருக்கத்தை கட்டுப்படுத்த ரூ 10 கோடி
2024 :- தெரு நாய் இனப்பெருக்கத்தை கட்டுப்படுத்த ரூ 20 கோடி
திருட்டு திராவிடியாஸ்🙄🙄
உலகத்துலேயே நாய்க்கு மொத்தமா 30கோடி ரூபாய் நிதி ஒதுக்கி, கொள்ளை அடிச்சு விஞ்ஞான ஊழல் பண்றதுல இவனுக வில்லாதி வில்லனுங்க…..… pic.twitter.com/fkXJgDvlJs
— ArunmozhiVarman 🇮🇳 🕉🚩🛕🎻🎧🎙🎶 (@Arunmozhi_Raaja) February 20, 2024
The BJP’s critique goes beyond specific allocations, emphasizing a lack of originality in the state’s budgetary approach. Annamalai contends that every scheme announced is a replica of Central Government initiatives, raising questions about the state government’s innovative thinking and governance strategy.
Some of the prominent changes highlighted include the renaming of the POSHAN scheme as the Ensure Nutrition scheme, the PM housing scheme Awas Yojana rebranded as Kalaignar’s Dream House scheme, and the PM Gram Sadak Yojana renamed as the CM village road scheme, among others. This rebranding has drawn criticism for lacking genuine reform and being merely cosmetic in nature.
ஸ்டிக்கர் திமுக😂#Dubakoor_Dmk_Budget pic.twitter.com/4BJcKhRBFe
— Bagavath Pratheep (@Bagavathprathee) February 19, 2024
ஸ்டிக்கர் ஒட்டிய விடியா அரசு#Dubakoor_Dmk_Budget
All central govt. Schemes have been stickered as State govt schemes in TN. pic.twitter.com/ezLcS6B6TD— Bharati பாரதி 𑀧𑀸𑀭𑀢𑀺-பாரத தமிழச்சி (@Brahmanandhi) February 19, 2024
Furthermore, the allocation of funds has raised eyebrows, with only Rs 370 crore earmarked for the implementation of the Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar Puthumai Penn Thittam, aimed at assisting girl students in Government-aided schools studying in Tamil medium. In contrast, a more substantial amount of Rs 500 crore was allocated for the development of a new modern film city in Poonamallee, covering 140 acres of land. Critics argue that this disparity reflects bias, especially considering that the Chief Minister’s son, Udhayanidhi Stalin, is an actor seeking influence in the industry.
#Dubakoor_Dmk_Budget pic.twitter.com/u6qxQbj3Lh
— Ramesh Shivaa (@ShivaaBJYM) February 19, 2024
The budget has also faced criticism for its lack of originality, with social media posts likening it to a superficial attempt reminiscent of a comedy scene from a Tamil film. Additionally, the government’s ambitious poverty alleviation plan, the ‘Chief Minister’s Thayumanavar scheme,’ has raised questions due to the lack of specific strategies or funding allocations. Despite aiming to uplift five lakh of the poorest families, the initiative fails to address the significant poverty levels identified in the NITI Aayog’s multidimensional poverty report.
1969 முதல் இப்போ வரை, இவ்வளவுதான் இவனுங்க பட்ஜெட் 😆😆😆#Dubakoor_Dmk_Budget pic.twitter.com/yRPXSWLa2I
— ArunmozhiVarman 🇮🇳 🕉🚩🛕🎻🎧🎙🎶 (@Arunmozhi_Raaja) February 20, 2024
In a move seemingly aimed at appeasing minorities in an election year, the budget includes several sops, including subsidies for madras and durgas, educational loans for minority students, and the recognition of teachers working in minority educational institutions. However, critics argue that these measures lack substantive impact and are merely token gestures.
The agricultural budget, presented by Minister MRK Panneerselvam, also raised eyebrows with its rebranding of central schemes under new names, such as the Chief Minister’s Mannuyir Kaathu Mannuyir Kaappomm scheme. Similarly, the proposed One Village – One Crop scheme mirrors existing central initiatives like the Soil Health Card Scheme, leading to accusations of duplication and lack of originality.
BJP MLA Vanathi Srinivasan criticized the government for copying central government schemes without introducing genuine reform, while critics denounced the budget as a ploy to deceive the public and divert funds for personal gain. As debates rage on the efficacy and transparency of the budget, the Stalin government faces mounting pressure to address the concerns raised by critics and ensure accountability in budgetary allocations.
