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Even as the ruling DMK government in Tamil Nadu engages in a political discourse with the BJP-led regime at the Centre over the delimitation of parliamentary and Assembly constituencies and the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP), its use of the Tamil letter ‘Roo’ (‘ரூ’) instead of the Indian currency symbol ‘₹’ in the promotional logo for the State Budget has drawn nationwide attention. The logo, which was unveiled by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, has been seen by political opponents as an attempt to place regional identity in opposition to national identity. However, the use of ‘Roo’ is more a symbolic representation of Tamil — one of India’s many languages — than an outright rejection of the currency symbol ‘₹’. The Tamil Nadu government, like many others, continues to be flexible in adopting different symbols — ‘₹’, ‘Rs’, and ‘ரூ’ — in its official documents. In fact, the widespread use of ‘₹’ in the State’s first Economic Survey reinforces the idea that cultural and linguistic diversity, rather than political intent, governs such choices.
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While Tamil Nadu has taken longer than other southern States to release an Economic Survey, the document is a valuable addition to literature on the State’s economy. Forecasting a growth rate of over 8% in 2024-25, the Survey contextualises the State’s economy within global and national economic trends. As a major exporter of automobiles, textiles, leather and IT services, Tamil Nadu is more sensitive than many other States to global market fluctuations, making its growth trajectory more volatile. The Survey’s observations on demographic trends are particularly relevant, given that Tamil Nadu’s population growth is slowing. The challenge lies in consolidating and building upon industrial gains for long-term sustainable growth. Additionally, the Survey underscores the vulnerability of certain coastal districts in terms of climate change/natural disasters. The Survey also has a strong focus on sustainable water management practices — a subject that has historically received insufficient attention. However, the Survey could have had a more detailed analysis of the State’s finances and the socio-economic challenges faced by Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, who make up over one-fifth of the population. As more States publish their own Economic Surveys — the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir tabled its Survey recently — there is an opportunity now for economists, public policy experts and academics to conduct comparative analyses. Such studies, shared in public forums, could encourage other States that have yet to attempt similar reports to undertake their own economic assessments, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of India’s diverse economic landscape.
Published – March 15, 2025 12:10 am IST
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Identities and symbols: On Tamil Nadu and the ரூ
