Even as the DMK questioned the decline in student population in schools run by the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department, Ministers of the AIADMK government cited various factors including family planning as reasons for the dwindling numbers.
During the debate on the demand for grants for the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department, DMK MLA R.T. Arasu (Cheyyur) drew the attention of the government to the declining number of students in schools run by the department. While there were over 2 lakh students in 1,073 schools during the DMK regime, the number is around 1 lakh in 1,134 schools now.
In response, Textiles Minister O.S. Manian claimed that the livelihood of persons belonging to the Scheduled Caste had improved, and therefore students had opted for other schools. DMK members were unwilling to accept the explanation. They also rejected the statement of Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Minister V.M. Rajalakshmi over the issue.
When Mr. Arasu sought to make fun of the government distributing milch cows to students, Electricity Minister P. Thangamani asked him if the DMK was opposing the welfare scheme.
School Education Minister K.A. Sengottaiyan said family planning could have been one of the reasons behind the declining number of students — an explanation that amused several MLAs.