Govt staff told to contribute voluntarily

Julie.Mariappan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:04.04.2020

Tamil Nadu government on Thursday issued an order seeking voluntary contributions of one day salary, or more in the case of whoever is willing to do so, from its employees and teachers towards chief minister’s public relief fund for fighting Covid-19 outbreak.

The order, issued by chief secretary K Shanmugam, said, money would be deducted from the salary of those who give their willingness to the salary disbursing officers concerned. It would be deducted from the salary for April and May.

The contributions would get 100% tax exemption under 80 (G) of the Income Tax Act. Those who make separate contributions to the relief fund – other than salary deduction – would be given separate receipts to avail of tax exemption, the order said.

The order is applicable to all employees of local bodies, universities, boards and corporations, aided educational institutions and other institutions receiving grants from the government and to the employees drawing consolidated pay from the government.

Shanmugam said the contributions would be purely voluntary in nature. The order was issued based on a request from various government employees’ and teachers’ associations to facilitate contributions to the relief fund.

In another order to secretaries to government, the chief secretary said all officials should carry identity cards with them to produce before police at check posts, put up to strictly enforce prohibitory orders.

The heads of departments have been instructed to authorise services of skeleton staff for Covid-19 related duty, through duty roaster.

They would be issued authorisation to travel.

The chief secretary also said all officials should carry identity cards with them to produce before police at check posts