JACTTO-GEO members donate ₹150 cr.

VCK chief urges people to comply with lockdown guidelines

28/03/2020, STAFF REPORTER,CHENNAI

The Joint Action Committee of Tamil Nadu Teachers' Organisations - Government Employees' Organisations (JACTTO-GEO) on Friday announced that it has decided to contribute one day’s salary of its members to the COVID-19 relief measures.

A day’s salary of the government staff would total to ₹150 crore, according to a functionary of the organisation. “We have decided to donate a day’s salary,” Tamil Nadu Government Employees' Association general secretary M. Anbarasu, also one of JACTTO-GEO's State conveners, told The Hindu.

P. Ilangovan, a State convenor from JACTTO-GEO, said it was the State government that could give its approval.

Thirumavalavan’s plea

Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) founder and Member of Lok Sabha from Chidambaram, Thol. Thirumavalavan on Friday donated ₹1.26 crore from his MPLADS funds towards helping the State Government fight COVID-19 spread.

Mr. Thirumavalavan said a Lok Sabha member could only allocate funds to their main district hospitals unlike Rajya Sabha members, who could allocate funds anywhere. “As per the requirements of the health officials in Chidambaram constituency, I am allocating ₹1.26 crore buy masks, gloves and ventilators. I had already announced that I would be giving an amount of ₹10 lakh before I even got the requirements,” said Mr. Thirumavalavan. He said the requirements from Annamalai University’s Hospital would be sought and funds allocated again.

Law Minister C.Ve. Shanmugam allocated ₹ 75 lakh from MLALAD. AIADMK MLAs M.R. Muthamizhselvan (Vikravandi) and M. Chakrapani (Vanur) offered ₹ 75 lakh and ₹ 25 lakh respectively

TMC president G.K. Vasan said his party would donate ₹10 lakh to CM’s Relief Fund.