TASMAC shops: Behind the scenes of one of Tamil Nadu government's highest revenue generators

TASMAC shops: Behind the scenes of one of Tamil Nadu government's highest revenue generators

Complaints of bottles being sold at prices higher than MRP in the outlets pour in from across the State, except those in Chennai police limits.

Published: 13th July 2020 03:48 AM 

Illustration: Tapas Ranjan

By ​T MURUGANANDHAM

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The demand for liquor is so high and impregnable in Tamil Nadu that the State may not be able to afford any anomaly in the functioning of one of its highest revenue generators -- the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC). 

But consumers across the State, except those in Chennai police limits, have complained about liquor bottles sold at TASMAC outlets being priced higher than the MRP. When enquired, the employees at several outlets said they had to bear a lot of additional expenses to manage the shops without much support from the company officials. 

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A senior TASMAC official, however, claimed that it was commonplace for employees affiliated to unions to level baseless allegations. When the government headed by the then chief minister J Jayalalithaa took over the private retail sales of liquor in the State in 2003, around 36,000 people were employed with the TASMAC. Seventeen years down the lane, the number of employees has come down to 27,000.

“None of these is a permanent employee,” claims a TASMAC worker from Dindigul. “We are all part-time contract employees. Even the supervisor, who must be a degree holder, draws a salary of Rs 12,500 per month (take home Rs 10,500). The salesmen draw Rs 10,500 per month (take homeRs 8,500), and this is after 12 salary revisions,” he added.

If running a family with this sum seems harrowing, wait till the employees list out the various aspects of running the business that require them to pay from their own pockets. Losses incurred due to irregularities in manual billing (e-billing still not introduced at these outlets), spike in electricity costs, loading-unloading charges, maintenance costs of the building and ‘handling loses’ are some of the expenses that eat into our meagre salaries, the employees said. 

The employees also alleged that they had to ‘manage higher-ups with payback’. “If we don’t pay the Revenue Inspector or the District Managers who come to inspect our outlets, they file unfavourable reports of our functioning,” a section of the employees alleged. “Compounding matters, the TASMAC administration does not have a provision for ‘handling loses’. Even biscuit manufacturers, who deal with plastic packets, keep aside an amount for ‘handling loses’; and here we are dealing with glass bottles. 

The Kerala government allows provision of handling costs, so that the liquor shop employees there are not affected,” a senior employee at a TASMAC outlet said. Employees said they were forced by circumstances to sell the bottles above the MRP. Following complaints of liquor being overpriced, TASMAC MD Kirlosh Kumar had sent a circular to all district-level personnel to conduct surprise checks and audit the shops to prevent malpractices.

Reacting to the allegations, a top official from the corporation said that it is a common practice for employees’ unions to raise such baseless claims. However, he added, the administration is mulling steps to curb sales of liquor at prices above MRP. “The government views the above-MRP sales as a grave issue. We are planning to install CCTV cameras in all TASMAC shops. Work orders have already been issued for this,” the official said.

A TASMAC employee from Virudhunagar said, “Even after 16 years of existence, there is no computerised billing system in the TASMAC shops. We only give manually written Bill. This is the basis for irregularities. There is no need for submitting a Physical Verification Report every month if the entire system is computerised. Why can’t the government do this ?” Talking about modernising the outlets, the official said, “Tenders will soon be floated for installing computerised billing system. 

We have also fixed fire extinguishers at the outlets, and are expediting the installation of ‘big cash chests’ to prevent burglaries at the outlet.” Similarly, no TASMAC shop is in a government building. These shops are in buildings owned by those who had run private liquor shops before the launching of the TASMAC. In Tamil Nadu, they get the shops through the employees and fix the rent later through a committee. The government allows a 10 per cent hike in rent once in a while. Most of the time, the increase in the rent is borne by the employees, the employee added. But the TASMAC official said the PWD gives a rent assessment certificate for all shops and the administration pays the rent.

What if my child alone tests negative? Parents look for official answers

What if my child alone tests negative? Parents look for official answers

“During other situations, staying with relatives would be an option but here relatives may also be hesitant to take the child in, if the rest of its family has tested positive,” he said.

Published: 12th July 2020 06:00 AM 

By Nirupama Viswanathan

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Parents in the city now have one more worry apart from Covid. What would happen to their children if the rest of the family tests positive, and is whisked away to hospitals or care centres?

“Recently, a family was taken away to a hospital when they had a 10-year-old at home. The child was then sent to its grandmother who was the only one in the family who tested negative,” said Ramiah Ariya, a resident of Thiruvanmiyur.

“But what if she also had been positive and the child had been younger than 10? In my case, I have a 3-year-old daughter,” he added. Parents need to know the options they have at hand if and when they face such a situation, he said. “During other situations, staying with relatives would be an option but here relatives may also be hesitant to take the child in, if the rest of its family has tested positive,” he said.

Express has earlier reported the ordeal of a 14-year-old boy who was home alone when he found out his father had died of Covid. His mother had been admitted to a care centre.“There needs to be a clear and uniform protocol across districts also for these situations. For example, in Chennai, if we tell authorities that the child is alone, they may permit them to be quarantined at home but in Chengalpattu, the authorities stay that institutional quarantine for the parents is the only option,” said a Chennai based doctor who works with an airline.

When contacted, a senior Corporation officials said that there are a few options available in these cases. “Wherever home quarantine is possible, we allow that. There are also cases where the child may be allowed to stay with the mother at Covid Care Centres,” the official said. However, this may increase the child’s exposure to the virus.“If the family is willing, they can be temporarily taken care or in the Corporation’s shelters. However, we are always ready to serve such requests and work out a solution,” the official said.

Lockdown effect? Daily cases in Chennai drop by 53 per cent in July

Lockdown effect? Daily cases in Chennai drop by 53 per cent in July

However, the daily tests, which touched the 10,000-mark in the first week of July, has lately been around 8,000.

Published: 12th July 2020 10:58 PM |

By OMJASVIN M D

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Chennai's COVID-19 curve continues to see a gradual decline since July 1, from 2,182 positive cases to 1,168 cases on July 12. This is a 53 per cent decline of cases.

From July 1 to 12, the city had recorded 18,831 cases while till June 30, it had recorded 58,561 cases. The cases from July 1 have increased at a level of 32 per cent, which is lower than it was in June.

Till June 19, the city had recorded 38,327 cases and between June 19 and 30, cases rose at a level of 52 per cent as the city recorded 20,234 cases in the period.

The cases have stabilised even after the intense lockdown was relaxed on July 5. The cases gradually came down from 1747 to 1168. The city is currently recording cases at the same rate of which it recorded in the first two weeks of June.

However, these early trends could be an aftereffect of the intense lockdown from June 19 to July 5, and also the increased testing from 5,000 to 10,000 in the first week of July.

Since the restrictions have been relaxed, one has to wait for a few days to know if this is a temporary dip or a sustained one.

While the early trends look positive, the city corporation is expected to strengthen its contain strategies by moving it's fever camps to work places and crowded areas.

"This is something which was in the plans for the past week. Fever camps would be extended to markets and factories as people are now going for work,'' a top corporation official said.

So far, 9.91 lakh people have attended the 15,704 conducted by the corporation till July 11. A total of 44,616 samples were taken from the camps and 11,663 turned positive in that, which is a positivity rate of 25.46 per cent.

Corporation Commissioner G Prakash said that a market regulation committee will be monitoring the overcrowded markets in the city.

"81 divisional assistant engineers will head the committee and ensure the fish, meat, vegetable markets, provisional stores practice social distancing, and vendors, people wear masks," he said.

He added that 32 circles officers have been appointed to monitor if all the shops in the city had hand sanitizers in place for customers.

Meanwhile, giving more positive news, 75 per cent of people who were infected have been discharged in the city, and there are only 24 per cent of active cases.

Royapuram, which was seemed to be in an unrecoverable stage in June, now has only 14 per cent active cases, and Tondiarpet has 17 per cent, while Thiruvika Nagar, which emerged as a huge cluster following a prayer meeting, now has only 20 per cent active cases.

However, the daily tests, which touched the 10,000-mark in the first week of July, has lately been around 8,000.

Banks in Chennai asked to suspend non-essential operations

Banks in Chennai asked to suspend non-essential operations

People need not go to banks for non-essential services and must make use of technology for the services possible, Corporation Commissioner G Prakash told reporters on Sunday.

Published: 13th July 2020 04:16 AM |

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: People need not go to banks for non-essential services and must make use of technology for the services possible, Corporation Commissioner G Prakash told reporters on Sunday. “We have asked banks in the city to suspend non-essential services like updating passbooks.

Small withdrawals can be made through ATMs. People shall go to banks only when it is absolutely necessary” he said. Over 1,500 banks and their branches are to be operating in the city. 

He also said that all shops that violate operational guidelines like enforcement of physical distancing and wearing of masks will be placed under lock and sealed. “The aim is not to close down the shops. This is for the greater good. We have set up 32 market management committees to monitor 81 markets in the city,” he said. The usage of masks in the city is about 70-80%.

However, youngsters should refrain from thinking that they are immune to the virus, he added. In the past one month, around 7.67 lakh people have been brought into the quarantine cycle, of which, around 2.87 lakh people have completed their 14-day quarantine, he noted

Medical colleges uncertain over exams, await MCI guidelines

Medical colleges uncertain over exams, await MCI guidelines

TNN | Jul 12, 2020, 07.28 AM IST

While the University Grants Commission (UGC) has released the revised guidelines for university exams, uncertainty looms large over medical colleges as the management wait for the fresh directives from the Medical Council of India (MCI).

"The institute has suspended all the internal, external and other exams till any guidelines are issued by the MCI. The directives are expected to come out by mid-August post which the decision will be taken," says Dr CMS Rawat, principal and dean, VCSG Government Medical College, Uttarakhand.

"The mode and manner of the exams will be decided based on MCI guidelines. In case the situation is not favourable for holding exams at the campus, the institute may opt for virtual assessment," says Dr Maha Singh, associate professor, Department of Paediatrics, Shaheed Hasan Khan Mewati Government Medical College, Haryana.

Delay in exam will impact final year students

The delay in the exam is likely to impact the final year students more as it will have a consequent effect in their internships, PG admissions and taking up jobs, adds Singh. "Examination for MBBS final year students is important as they have to appear for an internship after the exam. Timely assessment and internship will ensure completion of their course within the stipulated tenure. The extension of the course may deprive these students of NEET PG and other job opportunities," he says. The exams for junior batch can be adjusted during the entire duration of their five-year course, he adds.

Provisional promotion

While many colleges are still waiting for the guidelines for students' assessment, several others have resorted to provisional promotions. AIIMS Patna, Maulana Azad Institute of Dental Sciences (MAIDS) have provisionally promoted the undergraduate students to the next level without assessment. The exams for these students will be held once the situation improves.

"As per the guidelines from Dental Council of India ( DCI), undergraduate students of all batches except final year have been promoted to the next year. The exams for these students may be conducted as and when feasible," says Dr Sangeeta Talwar, principal, MAIDS. Meanwhile, MAIDS is currently holding the theory exams for final year PG students. Online internal assessments have also been concluded for undergraduate students. "The exams for the final year UG students will be held based on directions from the Delhi University," she adds.

4 medics of Bundi hosp infected due to negligence

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Kota:  13.07.2020

Alleged negligence by the principal medical officer of Bundi district government hospital of not isolating the medical staff of a ward where a woman tested Covid positive after death on Friday led to the doctor, two male nurses and a contractual computer operator getting infected on Sunday.

A 30-year-old woman of Kanti Astoli village, 5km from the district headquarters, was admitted to the medical ward of the district government hospital on Thursday. After her condition worsened, she was referred to MBS Hospital in Kota where she died during treatment at night.

Her swab samples, taken prior to her death, tested her Corona positive on Friday registering the first Covid death in the district.

Pincipal medical officer KC Meena and hospital authorities, ignoring Covid guidelines and health risks, allegedly did not allow the medical staff of the ward go on home isolation and forced them to work at the hospital.

The hospital authorities did not even bother to take samples of the medical staff, though some of them voluntarily gave their samples for tests. on Sunday, two male nurses agead around 35 years, a 35-year-old doctor and a 22-yearold contractual computer operator, all posted at Bundi district hospital and residents of various areas of the city, tested positive.

HC junks plea on RU V-C selection

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Jaipur: 13.07.2020

The Rajasthan High Court dismissed a writ petition challenging the procedure to select vice-chancellor of Rajasthan University (RU). The court said it will refrain from entertaining the petition as it believes the UGC Regulations 2018 will be considered and applied in the selection process that is in progress.

The HC bench, comprising Chief Justice Indrajit Mahanty and Justice Prakash Gupta, dismissed the petition for being pre-mature.

The petition was filed by one C S Meena, a probable candidate for the V-C post. In the petition, he alleged that guidelines of UGC were not followed during the selection process.

“In the advertisement for RU V-C post, it has been mentioned that eligible person having ‘equivalent position’ can apply for the post. However, the term ‘equivalent position’ has been omitted by the UGC in 2018 regulations which should be followed while appointing the new V-C,” argues Meena in the petition. There have been many objections raised in the past one month on the process of search committee.