S Keerthana, Tamil Nadu Industries Minister
| Photo Credit:
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) rode an aggressive social media campaign to power its way to government in Tamil Nadu. Now, one of its ministers is attempting to use social media for something different—not to campaign, but to shape public policy.Industries Minister S Keerthana has turned to LinkedIn, inviting entrepreneurs, investors, founders, academics, students and professionals to help shape Tamil Nadu’s next Industrial Policy.“If you’re an entrepreneur, investor, founder, student, academic, or simply someone who cares about Tamil Nadu’s future, I’d genuinely love to hear from you. Tell me what we’re getting right, and what we’re getting wrong,” she wrote.“genuine feedback”Unlike Instagram or X, which she described as platforms for sharing updates, Keerthana said she wanted LinkedIn to become a space for “genuine feedback” where stakeholders could share ideas, challenge assumptions and suggest improvements.The initiative comes as the government steps up consultations for a new industrial policy aimed at reinforcing Tamil Nadu’s position as one of India’s leading manufacturing and investment destinations. By choosing LinkedIn, the minister is reaching out directly to the business community, professionals and entrepreneurs whose feedback could shape the policy.Her only condition was that discussions remain civil. “The only request is that we keep this space thoughtful, respectful and civil. For trolling, you have my X and Instagram account,” she remarked.The post also offers a glimpse into the government’s engagement with industry. Keerthana said the past few weeks had been spent visiting factories and industrial parks, meeting investors, MSMEs, students, industry bodies and workers.“Behind every investment proposal are thousands of families hoping for better opportunities. Behind every new factory are young graduates wondering whether they’ll have to leave home for a good job. Behind every entrepreneur is someone who’s taken a risk and simply wants the government to be responsive, predictable and fair,” she wrote.She said the government had worked with Guidance Tamil Nadu, SIPCOT and other departments to remove bottlenecks and accelerate investment approvals, while also engaging educational institutions to ensure the workforce is ready for future jobs.Perhaps the most telling line in her post summed up the approach: “Governments don’t have a monopoly on good ideas, we simply have the responsibility to listen to them.” Whether those online conversations translate into policy changes remains to be seen, but the government has signalled that it is willing to crowdsource ideas from the people it hopes to serve.Published on July 31, 2026
