Tamil writer Araathu has criticised what he calls a growing “poverty mindset” in Tamil Nadu, arguing that political claims of rapid economic progress clash with election promises centred on cash benefits.
He defines the mindset as a willingness to queue up for government handouts regardless of one’s income or assets, and says parties have normalised this through years of “poverty politics”. According to him, this has also made vote-buying talk socially acceptable, with parties and voters openly treating money as part of the electoral exchange.
Araathu contends that this focus shifts governance away from middle-class needs and long-term public services. As an example, he points to government colleges where assistant professor vacancies have remained unfilled for years, with temporary staff hired on consolidated pay, and recruitment exams being conducted only as the government’s term nears its end.
He contrasts the monthly cost of the women’s entitlement payment—₹1,000 each for 1.31 crore beneficiaries, which he calculates at ₹1,310 crore a month—with an illustrative estimate for hiring 2,000 assistant professors at ₹1 lakh per month, totalling ₹20 crore. He argues that investing in qualified faculty would improve higher education quality and deliver lasting benefits.
The writer warns that prioritising immediate electoral returns can divert funds from essential services and infrastructure, leading to staff shortages across departments and visible decline. He cites long-distance state bus services losing their earlier edge and Chennai airport lagging behind Hyderabad and Bengaluru in international standards, concluding that Tamil Nadu cannot become a truly developed state without shedding this mindset.
