A long note, after a lot of reflection, and before a short break…

From the Northeast of the US to the Southwest of Australia😁 Happy to reconnect with my friends who are MLAs in Western Australia last weekend at a place I've never been before - Albany, the oldest city in WA which will celebrate it's 200th Anniversary this December..

Old student reunions are always special - an opportunity to rekindle old friendships and memories – of times when we were more carefree, and less set in any mould or direction. The memories our friends carry of us remind us of who we used to be, before the rigours (and the progress) of life in the post-student years. Even so, the 25th anniversary reunion last week felt like divine timing, given the recent election. I was ecstatic to be reminded of the way I used to be – before the financial career, and before politics. Creating memories and sharing stories have bound people together from before there were means to create records and make memory and knowledge permanent/systematically transferable. Telling, and listening to, stories is the essence of human interaction, even in the age of AI. Especially in the age of AI. Looking forward to more reunions with old friends, from schools and universities!!

Impact After Term | 09 : Special Initiatives of the Finance Department | 03 : Litigation Risk Management System Public finance management is not limited to budgeting, revenue mobilisation, and expenditure control. It also requires identifying and mitigating risks that could impose significant financial liabilities on the Government in the future. When the DMK Government assumed office in 2021,Tamil Nadu was facing numerous high-risk litigations involving taxation, land acquisition, personnel-related matters, and procurement disputes, many of which carried the potential to impose substantial financial burdens on the State Recognising the need for a more structured approach, Dr. @ptrmadurai announced the creation of a Litigation Risk Management System in the 2021-22 Budget to proactively identify, monitor, and manage cases with significant fiscal implications for the Government. As part of this initiative, the Government constituted a high-level Litigation Advisory and Oversight Committee (LAOC) under the chairmanship of Justice K. Kannan, former Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, along with experts in direct taxation, indirect taxation, civil litigation, public finance, and legal affairs. The system introduced a coordinated framework for identifying High Risk Litigations, providing strategic legal guidance, strengthening inter-departmental coordination, and monitoring cases through a dedicated High-Risk Litigation window within the Integrated Court Case Monitoring System (ICCMS). Within its first year, the Committee conducted 14 meetings and provided guidance on 26 high-risk cases across 14 Government departments. The initiative subsequently expanded, with 37 high-risk litigations across 15 departments receiving strategic guidance, while 88 high-risk cases across 10 departments are currently being monitored under the system. More than a legal reform, the Litigation Risk Management System represented an important institutional reform in public finance management, helping the Government anticipate potential liabilities, reduce fiscal risks, and strengthen long-term financial sustainability. — Admin Team

Cambridge, MA is home to a wealth of scholarship and wisdom, all in walking distance. During the reunion, I got to have deeply valuable discussions with 2 Nobel Laureates & 3 other amazing professors/deans/directors (forgot to take some pics 😁) from 3 Universities - great joy for a lifelong student like me.. And I was delighted to spend time with my Norwegian classmate who bought a bunch of "way out of the money" NASDAQ puts for $ 0.25 in early March 2000, the single best-timed market trade I ever saw across my entire career in finance!! Made so much money that he left mid-way to start a new company, after buying out the contract that sent him to the program. And has been a serial entrepreneur and start-up person ever since. Blessed to have studied, and be friends with such brilliant people..😊

Impact After Term | 08 : Eye Care Camps Across Madurai Central — Taking Healthcare Closer to the People One of the most common barriers to healthcare is not the absence of medical services, but the inability of people to access them at the right time. This was especially true for senior citizens, daily wage workers, and economically vulnerable families, many of whom delayed treatment despite health concerns due to financial constraints or the fear of losing a day's income. Recognising this challenge, Dr. @ptrmadurai, then a first-time MLA serving in the Opposition, initiated a series of eye care camps across Madurai Central with the conviction that essential healthcare should reach people where they live, rather than waiting for people to seek it out. Conducted with the support of specialist doctors, these camps helped identify vision impairments, early-stage cataracts, and other eye-related conditions, enabling timely intervention and treatment. Three major camps conducted across Arappalayam, Ellis Nagar, and Melamasi Street benefited a total of 1,281 residents. As part of the initiative, 157 beneficiaries received medicines through the camps, while 64 individuals were provided free spectacles at their doorstep. For those requiring surgery or advanced treatment, arrangements were made for admission and treatment at Madurai Rajaji Government Hospital, including transportation support and follow-up assistance. More than a medical outreach programme, these camps reflected a commitment to ensuring that access to healthcare does not depend on income, mobility, or awareness, but reaches those who need it most. — Admin Team

Going back to study full-time in my 30's led to among the happiest years of my life, forging deeply enriching life-long relationships, and opening up so many new horizons. Our 25th Reunion last week was sheer joy - full of warmth, love, memories (sailing😁), and learning😊😊😊

Impact After Term | 07 : Special Initiatives of the Finance Department | 02 : Economic Advisory Council — Bringing Global Expertise to Tamil Nadu's Development Goals Major reforms are rarely shaped by a single viewpoint. The most successful governments create systems that challenge assumptions, incorporate diverse perspectives, and draw upon the best available expertise. Recognising this, the DMK Government led by Thiru. @mkstalin constituted the Economic Advisory Council in 2021. Conceived as a special initiative of the Finance Department under Dr. @ptrmadurai, the Council brought together some of the world's most respected economists and policy experts to help Tamil Nadu navigate the economic challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic and chart a path towards rapid, inclusive, and sustainable long-term growth. The Council comprised Nobel Laureate Prof. Esther Duflo, former RBI Governor Prof. Raghuram Rajan, former Chief Economic Advisor to the Government of India Dr. Arvind Subramanian, development economist Prof. Jean Drèze, and former Union Finance Secretary Dr. S. Narayan. Deliberately designed to reflect different schools of thought on economics, development, welfare, and governance, each member was individually invited by Dr. PTR and accepted the invitation without prior knowledge of the other members who would eventually serve on the Council. As a result, this initiative brought five distinct perspectives to some of Tamil Nadu's most important policy challenges, helping shape its long-term development agenda and institutional reforms. Working under the leadership of the Hon'ble Chief Minister Thiru. @mkstalin and in consultation with various Government departments, the Council contributed to policy discussions across education, healthcare, social welfare, industry, energy, information technology, and public finance. Its recommendations helped shape Tamil Nadu's COVID-19 third-wave countermeasures, the Illam Thedi Kalvi scheme to address learning losses among students, support measures for MSME recovery, improvements in local body finances, and reforms to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of the power sector. The Council also contributed to data-centric governance reforms, Tamil Nadu's memorandum to the 16th Finance Commission, and strategies to strengthen the State's fiscal health. Notably, all five members of the Council contributed their time, expertise, and guidance entirely in a public-spirited capacity, without accepting any remuneration from the Government. — Admin Team

தமிழ்ச் சமூகத்திற்காக அர்ப்பணிக்கப்பட்ட தம் பொதுவாழ்வில் எத்தனையோ ஏற்றத் தாழ்வுகள், வெற்றி - தோல்விகள், விமர்சனங்கள் என அனைத்தையும் கடந்து, அரை நூற்றாண்டுக்கும் மேலாக தமிழக அரசியலின் மையப் புள்ளியாகத் திகழ்ந்த மகத்தான ஆளுமை! அரசியல் ரீதியாக ஏற்பட்ட அத்தனை எதிர்ப்புகளையும் -நெருக்கடிகளையும் முறியடித்து, பேரறிஞர் பெருந்தகை அண்ணா அவர்கள் தொடங்கிய நமது திராவிட முன்னேற்றக் கழகம், உயிரோட்டமுள்ள, வலிமையான மக்கள் இயக்கமாக என்றும் நிலைத்திருக்கும் வகையில் வழிநடத்திய தன்னிகரற்றத் தலைவர்! சமூக மற்றும் பொருளாதார வளர்ச்சிக் குறியீடுகளில், இன்று இந்தியாவின் முன்னணி மாநிலமாக தமிழ்நாடு விளங்குவதற்கு வலுவான அடித்தளம் அமைத்திட்ட, தொலைநோக்கு பார்வை கொண்ட முதல்வர்! இலக்கியம், நாடகம், திரைப்படம், பத்திரிகை எனப் படைப்புலகின் அனைத்துத் துறைகளிலும் தன் எழுத்துக்களால் அழியாத முத்திரை பதித்து, தலைமுறைகள் கடந்தும் நிலைத்திருக்கும் பங்களிப்புகளை வழங்கிய மாபெரும் கலைஞர்! நீதிக்கட்சி மற்றும் சுயமரியாதை இயக்கம் வகுத்தளித்த சமூகநீதி, சமத்துவம், பகுத்தறிவு ஆகிய கொள்கைகளை இறுதிவரை உறுதியாக ஏந்தி நின்ற கொள்கை வீரர்! தமிழினக் காவலர், முத்தமிழறிஞர் தலைவர் கலைஞர் அவர்களின் பிறந்த நாளான இன்று, அவரதம் மகத்தான பொதுவாழ்வையும், பெரும்புகழையும் போற்றுவோம். வாழ்க கலைஞரின் புகழ்!

Impact After Term | 06 : Anganwadi Day Care Centres – Nourishing the Future Generation Since being elected MLA for Madurai Central, Dr. @ptrmadurai has consistently prioritised investments in public education, child welfare, and community infrastructure. As part of this effort, special attention was given to strengthening Anganwadi centres, which serve as the first point of learning, nutrition, care, and early childhood development for thousands of children from economically disadvantaged families. Across Madurai Central, several Anganwadi centres were functioning in ageing, inadequate, or rented premises. To address this, new purpose-built Anganwadi buildings were constructed through the MLA Constituency Development Fund. To date, 22 Anganwadi Day Care Centre buildings have been established under the MLA Constituency Development Fund in Madurai Central. Beyond constructing new buildings, several centres were enhanced with compound walls, food preparation facilities, storage rooms, child-friendly toilets, play spaces, recreational equipment, and educational murals, creating safer and more nurturing environments for children. These investments strengthened the foundations of early childhood development by improving access to quality care, nutrition, and learning. They also support working families by providing reliable childcare, an important contribution in a State with one of the highest levels of women's participation in the workforce. — Admin Team

Impact After Term | 05 : Special Initiatives of the Finance Department | 01 : Special Task Force — Identifying & Recovering Unutilised Public Funds Even before assuming office as Minister for Finance & Human Resources Management, Dr. @ptrmadurai consistently advocated stronger accountability and efficiency in public finance management through his interventions in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, as a member of the Public Accounts Committee and as the Opposition MLA who regularly initiated the Assembly's general discussion on the Budget between 2017 and 2021. After the DMK Government assumed office under the leadership of Thiru. @mkstalin, one of the administration’s central priorities was ensuring that public funds allocated for welfare and development were efficiently utilised and properly monitored. In the 2021–22 Budget, the Government announced a Special Task Force (STF) to identify dormant and unutilised government funds parked in bank accounts outside treasury oversight. The STF undertook a large-scale reconciliation exercise involving government departments, public institutions, district administrations, and banks across Tamil Nadu. Alongside this, a dual-track survey and verification mechanism was introduced to systematically identify dormant and unutilised public funds across fragmented financial accounts and institutions, while also strengthening transparency and fiscal oversight. Within the initial phase itself, nearly ₹2,000 crore in idle public funds was identified and recovered. According to the Tamil Nadu Government’s 2026–27 Interim Budget, the STF has since examined nearly 11 lakh bank accounts and identified over ₹12,078 crore in dormant and unutilised public funds. Resources that had remained scattered and unmonitored across thousands of accounts were brought back into the public financial system, making them available for welfare programmes, infrastructure development, and other public investments across Tamil Nadu. — Admin Team

Impact After Term | 04 : Bringing Grievance Redressal Closer to the People Madurai Central is a fully urban constituency within the Madurai Corporation limits. When Dr. @ptrmadurai was first elected as MLA in 2016, prolonged delays in local body elections during the previous AIADMK regime had left many grassroots civic grievances without accessible public representation. As a result, many everyday civic issues, typically addressed through elected local body representatives, increasingly had to be taken up through the MLA’s office. In response, he introduced a constituency-wide grievance redressal system covering all 21 wards of Madurai Central. As part of this initiative, 28 public complaint boxes were installed across neighbourhoods, enabling residents to directly register grievances from within their local areas. Petitions collected through these boxes were reviewed twice every week through a structured follow-up mechanism coordinated by the constituency office. To further improve accessibility, dedicated call centre support, email access, and a public WhatsApp number (7305819999) were also introduced. Over the last 10 years, 19,718 petitions, grievances, and public requests have been formally received and acted upon through this mechanism. What began during the absence of elected local bodies has, over the years, evolved into a sustained model of responsive, accessible, and accountable grassroots governance. — Admin Team

A great Spring evening in London with old friends from the world of business & finance, now in public service in the Lords'. Thought provoking to visit and dine in institutions that have withstood the vicissitudes of time over multiple centuries..

Good to be back in London after a while, and to visit old haunts and new places, catch up with old friends, make new ones, and run into one unexpectedly 😊

Impact After Term | 03 : Reducing the Revenue Deficit While Expanding Welfare When the DMK Government assumed office in 2021, Tamil Nadu was confronting one of the gravest fiscal crises in its history amid the devastating second wave of COVID-19. The State inherited a revenue deficit of nearly ₹62,000 crore alongside severe economic distress. With the support and guidance of the then Chief Minister Thiru. @mkstalin, Dr. @ptrmadurai, as Minister for Finance & Human Resources Management, pursued structural reforms and welfare expansion despite severe fiscal constraints. The White Paper on State Finances released in August 2021 exposed the scale of fiscal stress and laid the foundation for long-term reforms, including data-centric governance measures aimed at improving beneficiary targeting and reducing leakages. Even during this crisis, the Government implemented welfare measures on an unprecedented scale — ₹4,000 COVID relief assistance and grocery support for 2.1 crore ration cardholders at a total cost of ₹9,370 crore; nearly ₹9,000 crore towards crop, jewel, and SHG loan waivers; over ₹2,200 crore for free bus travel for women; ₹698 crore for Pudhumai Penn; and a ₹3 per litre reduction in petrol tax despite an annual revenue impact of ₹1,160 crore. Despite these large-scale welfare commitments, unprecedented and difficult fiscal reforms helped reduce the inherited annual revenue deficit by roughly half within two years — demonstrating that fiscal discipline and social welfare need not be pursued at the expense of one another. — Admin Team

Friends in Chennai, esp those around Adayar, Indra Nagar, Besant Nagar... Pls keep an eye out for Malli. She is my friend's dog. She went missing yday. She is on treatment. They are desperately looking for her. Pls help spread the word friends 🙏🏽

Impact After Term | 02 The report in @NewIndianXpress dated 25.05.2026 regarding the recent TNPSC notification for the recruitment of Junior Photographers reflects how governance reforms can create an impact far beyond elections. As the report points out, it was the DMK Government led by Thiru. @mkstalin that, during Dr. @ptrmadurai’s tenure as Finance & Human Resources Management Minister, brought these recruitments under the ambit of TNPSC — replacing discretion and recommendation with a transparent, merit-based process open to all. This reform was enabled through the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (Additional Functions) Act, 2022, which was introduced in the Assembly on 07.01.2022 and received the assent of the Governor on 31.01.2022. Real reform is not just about politics. It is about changing systems that outlast governments. — Admin Team

The allegation regarding a tender being floated and closed within a single day, and the subsequent withdrawal of the tender along with the suspension of officials following public scrutiny, is worth noting. It was the DMK Government led by Thiru. @mkstalin that, through the 2022–23 Budget presented by then Finance Minister Dr. @ptrmadurai, announced mandatory e-procurement for all government procurements from 01.04.2023 onwards. This was subsequently operationalised through G.O.Ms.No.93 dated 30.03.2023, amending the Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tenders Rules. This episode also underlines the importance of the systemic reforms and transparent governance introduced by the DMK Government. — Admin Team

Indian Agents are in a deep comfort zone - sadly, that prohibits meaningful reform. The need for course correction was never larger; when die-hard optimists lose hope.... indianexpress.com/article/op…

“என் ஆசை எல்லாம் என் இறுதி மூச்சு உள்ளவரை பொதுச்சேவை செய்வதுதான்” — பண்பாளர் திரு பி.டி.ஆர் பழனிவேல் ராஜன் அவர்களின் மணிவிழா செய்தியில் இருந்து. என் எண்ணமெல்லாம் நிறைந்திருக்கும் தந்தையே, தங்களது நினைவை நெஞ்சில் ஏந்தும் இந்த 20ஆம் ஆண்டு நினைவு நாளில், இந்தத் தருணத்தில், மேற்காணும் தங்களது வார்த்தைகள் இன்னும் ஆழமான அர்த்தமுள்ளதாகவும், ஊக்கம் அளிப்பதாகவும் உணரச் செய்கிறது. தங்கள் தந்தை, திராவிட இயக்கத்தின் முதன்மை முகங்களில் ஒருவரான தமிழவேள் பி. டி . ராஜன் அவர்களின் மக்கள் பணியைத் தொடர, வெற்றிகரமான வழக்கறிஞர் தொழில் வாழ்க்கையை விட்டுவிட்டு பொதுவாழ்விற்கு வந்தவர் நீங்கள்! அறிஞர் அண்ணாவின் கோரிக்கையை ஏற்றுத் தேர்தல் அரசியலில் பங்கேற்று, 1967 மற்றும் 1971 தேர்தல்களில் சுயேட்சையாக வெற்றி பெற்று, வெளியிலிருந்து கழகத்திற்கு உறுதுணையாக நின்றீர்கள். ஆனால், கழகம் கடுமையான சோதனைகளை எதிர்கொண்ட காலகட்டமான 1976இல் தங்களைக் கழகத்துடன் இணைத்துக் கொண்டீர்கள், அதன் பிறகு இறுதி மூச்சுவரை எல்லா ஏற்றத் தாழ்வுகளிலும் இயக்கத்துடன், பயணித்தீர்கள். 1996 – 2001 இல் தமிழ்நாடு சட்டப்பேரவைத் தலைவராகப் பொறுப்பு வகித்த காலத்தில், மதுரைக்கு நவீன முகத்தை அளித்த பல கட்டமைப்புகளுக்கு அடித்தளம் அமைத்தீர்கள். எனினும், அடுத்த தேர்தலில் தோல்வி வந்தது. ஆனால் மக்கள் மீதான நம்பிக்கையை நீங்கள் ஒருபோதும் இழக்கவில்லை. அதே உறுதியுடனும், அதே அர்ப்பணிப்புடனும் மீண்டும் மக்களிடம் பயணித்து, 2006இல் மதுரை மக்களால் மீண்டும் தேர்ந்தெடுக்கப்பட்டீர்கள். கழக அரசின் அறநிலையத்துறை அமைச்சராகப் பொறுப்பேற்று வெற்றி முகத்துடன் மதுரை மண் திரும்பும் போது யாரும் எதிர்பாரா வண்ணம் எங்களை விட்டுப் பிரிந்தீர்கள். ஆனால் தங்கள் இறுதி ஊர்வலம், வெற்றி–தோல்விகளை எல்லாம் கடந்து, மக்கள் மனங்களில் தாங்கள் பெற்றிருந்த உயர்ந்த இடத்தை வரலாற்றில் பதிவு செய்தது. தங்கள் வாழ்வே எமக்கு ஒரு பாடம், எல்லா சூழல்களிலும் வழிகாட்டும் கலங்கரை விளக்கம். பொதுச்சேவை என்பது பதவியைத் தாண்டிய பொறுப்பு என்று உணர்த்திய தங்கள் வழித்தடத்திலேயே என்றும் எமது பயணம்!