Leader of Opposition and AIADMK General Secretary, Edappadi K Palaniswami, launched a strong criticism against Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and his government over alleged corruption in the implementation of the ₹1,000 crore Tholkudi Thittam. The scheme was intended to uplift the socio-economic conditions of tribal communities.

In a statement, Palaniswami claimed that despite the large allocation of funds, no significant work has been completed under the scheme, and several crores have been siphoned off without delivering the intended benefits.

Palaniswami also raised concerns over the government’s hiring practices, stating that instead of filling vacant positions through the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) or based on seniority, the DMK government hired approximately 90 individuals as district managers, deputy managers, and technical assistants in the last two years, offering salaries ranging from ₹50,000 to ₹90,000 per month.

Additionally, Palaniswami criticized the government’s decision to centralize cooking services for ADW (Adi Dravidar Welfare) students’ hostels in Chennai. By partnering with a private player to supply food from a centralized kitchen, the government has allegedly denied job opportunities to individuals from the SC/ST community, who could have been employed as cooks and assistants in these hostels. Palaniswami warned that the government plans to expand this model to other cities in the state.

“I strongly condemn the Chief Minister for being a mute spectator while funds are being misused,” Palaniswami said. He urged CM Stalin to take immediate action to stop such practices and ensure the effective implementation of welfare schemes for the SC/ST communities.