Tamil Nadu Minister Highlights Economic Disparity and Women's Empowerment Gap Between North and South India

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Industries Minister TRB Rajaa has claimed that Uttar Pradesh 'lives' through tax contributions paid by Tamil Nadu to the Centre, asserting this as the truth.

When speaking to reporters in Chennai, Rajaa questioned, "From where did UP get money? Is it internal development? We have grown across sectors and Tamil Nadu accounts for 15 percent of the country's total factory workers." His response came after PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss reportedly suggested that Uttar Pradesh has developed better than Tamil Nadu. Rajaa dismissed this claim as "laughable and childish," saying the PMK leader was merely "doing politics."

The Industries Minister highlighted Tamil Nadu's economic achievements, noting that investments secured amount to approximately 11.32 lakh crore. "During the last 3-4 years alone, about 35 lakh job opportunities have been created according to Central government data, and the economy booms," he stated.

Rajaa emphasized that while the national growth rate stands at 6-7 percent, Tamil Nadu under Chief Minister M K Stalin's leadership has achieved an impressive 11.19 percent growth rate.

"The funds received by Uttar Pradesh is the union government's largesse, and it is not even that—it is Tamil Nadu's funds. Uttar Pradesh lives its life from Tamil Nadu's tax contribution, and this is the truth," Rajaa claimed emphatically.

He pointed out that for every rupee Tamil Nadu contributes in taxes, the state receives only 29 paisa in return. "Where does the rest go? It goes to states like Uttar Pradesh," he said. On September 25, 2025, the state minister asserted: "From our funds, they are spinning a story claiming surplus; this claim is wrong."

Rajaa mentioned that Anbumani knows the reality well, having served as a union minister. He urged Anbumani to show concern for Tamil Nadu first, adding that the PMK leader could later demonstrate concern for Uttar Pradesh and his associates there.

While addressing an event at a prominent women's college in Chennai, the minister highlighted stark cultural differences between Tamil Nadu and northern states regarding gender perceptions. In northern states, women are typically only asked about their husband's job, whereas in Tamil Nadu, women are asked about their educational achievements and career.

"This does not happen overnight; it has taken at least a century of work in Tamil Nadu," he remarked, attributing this progress to Dravidian movement leaders, including 'Periyar' EV Ramasamy.

Rajaa proudly noted that Tamil Nadu hosts 17 of India's top 100 educational institutions according to the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF-2025) rankings.

While praising Chief Minister Stalin's successful education initiatives, Rajaa credited the entire Dravidian leadership across party lines for Tamil Nadu's educational advancement. He specifically acknowledged the contributions of Periyar, DMK founder C N Annadurai, late DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi, AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran, and former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, stating that all these leaders prioritized education, which has fueled Tamil Nadu's growth.

The minister concluded with a striking statistic: 43 percent of women working in factories across India's organized sector are from Tamil Nadu. "This is an extremely proud number," Rajaa remarked, adding that "the rest of India is not giving enough importance to our women."