Tamil Nadu’s Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin made a significant declaration on Saturday, unveiling a plan to grant a financial stipend of ₹ 7,500 to aspiring civil service candidates.
During the event, the Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development emphasized the significance of securing positions such as those offered by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), Indian Bank service, and the Railways, aligning with the objectives of the Dravidian model. He highlighted the historical vision of leaders such as Karunanidhi, who advocated for the education of first-generation students, and the contributions of Periyar Anna and Karunanidhi in uplifting the youth. He further underscored the ongoing efforts of Chief Minister (MK) Stalin in this regard.
Stressing the impact of the “Naan Mudhalvan” scheme, he noted that a staggering 13 lakh students had benefited from it, resulting in the employment of 1.5 lakh students. Expressing the imperative of enabling the youth to secure central government jobs, he emphasized the potential of the “Naan Mudhalvan” scheme to fulfill the aspirations of young individuals.
The minister acknowledged that while Tamil Nadu offers various provisions facilitated by the state government, the engagement of young people from the state has dwindled. He expressed concern over the low percentage of Tamil Nadu’s youth clearing the UPSC exams, observing a decline in the number of TN youth securing central government jobs from 10 percent to a mere 5 percent since 2016. In response to this challenge, the government initiated training centers for UPSC aspirants and is now disbursing financial aid of ₹ 7,500 to 1,000 students over a span of 10 months, aiming to foster the prospects of the state’s youth.