Chennai, June 20:
DMK president and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Saturday strongly criticised the State government’s decision to rename the flagship Naan Mudhalvan scheme as Thiran Tamil Nadu, arguing that the programme’s contribution to youth development should not be diluted for political reasons.

In a statement posted on social media platform X, Stalin said that changing the scheme’s name or removing its digital footprint would not diminish the impact it had made in the lives of thousands of students and young job seekers across the State.

His remarks came amid reports that the government had renamed the initiative and removed content related to Naan Mudhalvan from its official social media platforms.

Stalin said the programme had become a symbol of aspiration and opportunity for Tamil Nadu’s youth and that its achievements could not be erased through administrative decisions.

“You may change the name of the social media pages and remove the posts associated with the scheme, but you cannot erase the achievements of a programme that helped thousands of young people realise their dreams,” he said.

Recalling the origins of the initiative, Stalin noted that throughout his tenure as Chief Minister he had consistently emphasised the importance of education and skill development. The Naan Mudhalvan scheme, he said, was conceived as a “dream project” aimed at equipping students with the knowledge, skills and career guidance needed to succeed in a rapidly changing job market.

According to Stalin, the programme played a crucial role in bridging the gap between education and employment by providing industry-oriented training, skill enhancement opportunities and career counselling. Thousands of students benefited from the initiative, improving their employability and securing better career prospects, he added.

The DMK leader maintained that while governments may choose to alter the branding of welfare programmes, they should not undermine initiatives that have delivered tangible benefits to the public.

Warning against any move that could weaken the scheme, Stalin said the development of Tamil Nadu’s youth should remain a priority irrespective of political differences.

“The progress and future of Tamil Nadu’s younger generation must never become a casualty of politics,” he said.