‘CM must apologise for not greeting people for Diwali’

‘CM must apologise for not greeting people for Diwali’

Madurai:  06.11.2021

Union minister of state for fisheries and animal husbandry L Murugan has said that chief minister M K Stalin is practising “modern untouchability” by not greeting Hindus of the state for Diwali. “The CM should come forward to unconditionally apologise to the people,” he told reporters during an interaction at Rameswaram on Friday.

“How fair is it to greet people for other religious celebrations and neglect the festival celebrated by Hindus who are the majority? It is modern untouchability against Hindus and Tamils,” he said. Murugan said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a historic gift to the people by reducing VAT on fuel on Diwali eve. “He reduced petrol price by Rs 5 a litre and of diesel by Rs 10 a litre. It is a big announcement that will facilitate development and reduce the cost of transportation. The states where BJP is in power have also reduced VAT on fuel,” he said.

He added that Puducherry government has cut tax by Rs 19 a litre and the Tamil Nadu government should also reduce VAT on the fuels. TNN

Stalin gives incentive to medical workers

Stalin gives incentive to medical workers

₹196.91 cr. allotted to 1,05,168 workers

04/11/2021

Special CorrespondentCHENNAI

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Wednesday launched the distribution of a special cash incentive to government and contract medical workers who helped control the spread of COVID-19 during April, May and June this year.

According to an order that the government issued in October, a total of ₹196.91 crore will be granted to 24,908 medical officers, 26,615 nurses, 6,791 health inspectors, 8,658 village health nurses, 6,083 laboratory technicians and 32,113 others.

Of the 1,05,168 workers, 34,396 are from the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine; 13,371 from the Medical and Rural Health Services; 49,908 are from the Directorate of Medical Education; 270 from the Directorate of Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy; 962 from the Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services (ESIC Project); and 6,261 from the Tamil Nadu Health System Reform Program.

Vaccination review

Mr. Stalin took part in a videoconference of all Chief Ministers, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to review the COVID-19 vaccination being undertaken across the country. Health Minister Ma. Subramanian, Chief Secretary V. Irai Anbu, Health Secretary J. Radhakrishnan, Officer on Special Duty in the Health Department P. Senthil Kumar, Tiruvallur Collector Alby John Varghese and Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine T.S. Selvavinayagam also took part.

One-time incentive for govt. workers acquiring higher qualification

One-time incentive for govt. workers acquiring higher qualification

Incentive to be granted on a maximum of two occasions during service

04/11/2021

Dennis S. JesudasanCHENNAI

The Tamil Nadu government has issued orders for granting incentive in the form of one-time lump sum amount ranging between ₹10,000 and ₹25,000 to State Government employees, who have acquired higher qualifications after coming into service on or after March 10, 2020.

According to a G.O. issued by Chief Secretary V. Irai Anbu, for a Ph.D, the one-time lump sum amount would be ₹25,000. For a postgraduate degree or its equivalent and a diploma or its equivalent, the lump sum would be ₹20,000 and ₹10,000 respectively.

As per the operational guidelines issued in this regard the higher qualifications acquired by the government employee should help him / her in boosting the work efficiency.

“The incentive would not be allowed if a government employee had acquired the higher qualification on the direction of the government or had obtained it during the study leave.”

The incentive would be granted on a maximum of two occasions during the service of a government employee and there should be at least two years between the occasions, it said.

‘Not sufficient’

However, a section of the government employees is not happy with the announcement.

“The one-time lump sum would not be sufficient even to cover the expenses incurred for acquiring the higher qualification,” contended P. Frederic Engels, who is a teacher in a State Government school. The old increment system which prevailed prior to March 20, 2020 should be resumed, he said.

Manifesto pledge

The AIADMK government had in March last year discontinued the increment system for higher qualifications obtained by government employees. Though the DMK election manifesto said it would resume the old system, the government has now decided to give a one-time lump sum, he pointed out.

“Going by this G.O., an MBBS graduate, who is a medical officer in a primary health centre in a rural area would get a one-time lump sum of only ₹20,000, if he / she completes MS. This sum would not even compensate the fees he / she would have spent on higher education. This decision would only demotivate government employees from pursuing higher education," Mr. Engels argued

Special task force found Rs 2,000 crore unused govt funds: PTR

Special task force found Rs 2,000 crore unused govt funds: PTR

Addressing reporters at the Secretariat, Rajan termed the STF’s findings an interim report. “This is just a trailer. We will be coming out with more such findings,” he said.

Published: 02nd November 2021 05:34 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Unutilised funds amounting to Rs 2,000 crore have been unearthed by a Special Task Force (STF), Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan announced on Monday. The task force was constituted to identify government funds stashed outside the treasury department’s ambit.

Addressing reporters at the Secretariat, Rajan termed the STF’s findings an interim report. “This is just a trailer. We will be coming out with more such findings,” he said. As government funds are often shifted to accounts outside the view of the treasury system, Rajan said the STF built a database by collating data of bank accounts where government money had been parked as on March 31, 2021 from multiple sources such as banks, district collectors, government departments, and other quasi-governmental entities.

The minister said an Integrated Financial and Human Resources Management System would be put in place so there is no idling of funds in the future. The system would involve digitisation of the treasury system by integrating it with human resource and budget management.

“Some schemes will be implemented through intermediate agencies of the government such as companies, societies, and local bodies. For this, a State-level Public Financial Management System will be established in association with agency banks. The bank balances of the agencies for implementing the scheme will be in plain sight of the finance department after withdrawal from the government treasury,” he said.

Further, the minister said the release of funds from the treasury will be done only after the funds from the previous withdrawal completely utilised. If the funds are not used within the specified time period, they will be returned to the government.

Stating that the term of the STF would be extended till March 31, 2022, Rajan said it will continue to audit reported data, specifically under categories of ‘available balances’ and ‘liabilities’, and reconcile the data collected from the department heads, district collectors and banks. “It is possible that further amounts of unutilised funds could be identified for return to the government treasury,” he said.

State govt will introduce a policy for MSME loans: FM

Thehe Chief Minister’s Economic Advisory Council has backed the State government’s initiatives in data-centric governance, he said. “As part of the initiative, beneficiary-linked databases of government programmes such as the Public Distribution System and Old Age Pension scheme are analysed by the Tamil Nadu e-Governance Agency.

Databases, such as the Civil Registration System, which maintains births and deaths, can enable new additions (to the families) and deletions (on deaths in the family) to be carried out directly into the Family Card database. This would be cost-effective and result in effective implementation,” he said. The minister said that there is a plan for the government to seek a payments bank licence from the RBI.

“The quantum of welfare payments is huge and if the State has its own bank, we can see how much money is spent,” he said. Asked if fuel prices impacted the government’s expenditure with inflation setting in, he said there was no impact as the prices hadn’t risen drastically. Rajan said the State will introduce a policy by to guarantee MSME loans. The sector was urging the government to float a Credit Guarantee Corporation with large capital to rescue struggling small industries.

‘Pension given to Deceased persons’

PTR said, over the last few months, it was found that deceased persons were receiving pensions and monthly allocation of rice. He said while analysing crop and jewellery loan data, several irregularities were found

33 OFFICES RAIDED

Diwali ‘gifts’: DVAC seizes over ₹18L cash, liquor worth ₹6.5L

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:31,10,2021

Directorate of vigilance and anti-corruption (DVAC) officials recovered ₹18.2 lakh unaccounted cash, liquor worth ₹6.5 lakh and 36 boxes of crackers as Diwali gifts during surprise raids at 33 government offices in the state on Friday evening.

The raids conducted simultaneously were held in 14 departments — TNEB, transport, registration, fire and rescue, commercial tax, police, land reforms, taluk supply office, Tasmac, rural development, drug control, industrial safety and health, municipality and DTCP.

DVAC officials are planning for a mega raid in other places on Monday and Tuesday to prevent the last round of Diwali gifts being given to government officials.

Earlier, DVAC director and director-general of police P Kandaswamy had conducted meetings with subordinate officers to gather details of the corrupt officials in all the departments.

They scrutinised the officials based on their rapport with businessmen and politicians. The officers monitored the officials call log details and finalised the list of 60 officials as per the priority and the raid was kickstarted.

In a similar raid conducted in 2020, anti-corruption officials had seized ₹4.30 crore and 519 sovereigns of gold jewellery in the guise of festival gifts from government officials .

Over 10,000 health insurance claims of govt. staff rejected

Over 10,000 health insurance claims of govt. staff rejected

Collectors asked to constitute district-level audit teams

25/10/2021

Dennis S. Jesudasan CHENNAI

Over 10,000 claims made by Tamil Nadu government employees and pensioners under the New Health Insurance Scheme during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially between July 2020 and August this year, have been rejected. Since the number of claims rejected is huge, district-level teams have been constituted to audit the claims.

At a meeting to review the cashless treatment provided under the NHIS between July 1, 2020, and August 31 this year, “it was found that around 10,929 claims had been denied for various reasons,” the Commissioner of Treasuries and Accounts informed the Collectors.

The Commissioner asked the Collectors to constitute district-level teams to conduct sample studies of such cases and submit a detailed report before this month-end. The teams will each consist of the chief/senior medical officer, a treasury officer and a staff member of the insurance company. They will also undertake periodical sample studies (every two months) at major hospitals, and send reports to the office of the Commissioner of Treasuries and Accounts.

“Almost every employee has had to fight to get the insurance claims. There are also some inherent flaws in the scheme,” said P. Frederic Engels, State coordinator of the Contributory Pension Scheme Abolition Movement.

He highlighted a specific issue in the implementation of the scheme. Though the scheme was awarded to one company, there are two third-party administrators, he said. While one company had been earmarked for a few districts, the remaining districts had been allocated to another.

“It has been effected with a mere circular. When a government employee is admitted to a hospital in another district while travelling or after an accident, the third-party administrator says the other third-party administrator manages the affairs of that district. This causes an unnecessary burden on the patient. The cashless treatment is never cashless. Reimbursement should not be allowed at all, since it dilutes the very concept,” he said.

There are over 9.33 lakh State government employees and about 7.31 lakh pensioners in the State.

TN CM Stalin encourages media to indulge in constructive criticism

TN CM Stalin encourages media to indulge in constructive criticism

Chennai:11.10.2021

Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin on Sunday encouraged the media to indulge in constructive criticism of his government.

"I welcome constructive criticism by the media. At the same time, while it has the tendency to blow up small issues, it forgets to appreciate the positive measures undertaken by this government. Only those who tend to appreciate the good things reserve the right to criticise," Stalin said after unveiling the inaugural issue of 'Merchants of Madras', a weekly special page of The Times of India, at ITC Grand Chola.

“Government and politics have changed for the better in Tamil Nadu. The state has excellent human resources and offers a conducive atmosphere for establishing industries across sectors. This has to be propagated to the rest of India and the globe by media organisations like The Times of India,” Stalin said. The strengths of Tamil Nadu and the local businesses need to be highlighted, he added.

Highlighting the importance of the recently constituted CM’s economic advisory council, Stalin said the government is working towards achieving “inclusive growth for all people and communities”, which former Union finance secretary and member of the council S Narayanan termed as the ‘Dravidian model’.

He pointed out that Tamil Nadu is reeling from a debt of Rs 5 lakh crore and the state public sector undertakings (PSUs) have an additional burden of Rs 2 lakh crore. Only a handful of avenues offer scope for revenue generation as the Centre has, through GST, taken away the rights of the states to collect taxes. “Instead of depending on tax collections, we have to tap our own resources to strengthen ourselves and grow better,” he said, listing out several steps taken by his government on the industrial front, including an exclusive export strategy for the state and an export handbook for MSMEs. TNN

Clear all patta applications in two weeks: HC

Clear all patta applications in two weeks: HC

Madurai:01.10.2021

Noting that more than six lakh patta transfer applications are pending despite earlier directions issued by it, the Madras high court has directed the state government to dispose of the pending applications within two weeks.

While disposing of a batch of petitions in October 2020, Justice D Krishnakumar took serious note of the pendency of lakhs of patta transfer applications and directed the state to dispose them before March 2021. Recently, when the case was listed before the court for reporting compliance, the commissioner of land administration and the director of survey and settlement submitted status reports that revealed 6,13,218 were pending as of September 1. TNN

PTR stopped at Chennai airport by CISF staff for carrying two laptops

PTR stopped at Chennai airport by CISF staff for carrying two laptops

The Finance Minister who was bound for Thoothkudi, gave his bag for scanning at the domestic terminal.

Published: 01st October 2021 05:36 AM | Last Updated: 01st October 2021 05:36 AM

Palanivel Thiaga Rajan

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: An argument broke out between Finance Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan and a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel at the airport on Thursday morning after the minister was stopped for carrying two laptops.

The Finance Minister who was bound for Thoothkudi, gave his bag for scanning at the domestic terminal. The CISF personnel found the bag had two laptops and said passengers cannot carry two laptops. The minister in reply told the CISF personnel that there was no rule restricting passengers from carrying two laptops.

According to Chennai Airport spokesman, “The issue was due to a communication gap and it was resolved immediately. The officials later apologised to the Finance Minister.”

CS writes to govt depts on 12-month maternity break

ALSO FOR GOVT STAFF ALREADY ON LEAVE

CS writes to govt depts on 12-month maternity break

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:20.09.2021

The Tamil Nadu government has issued a letter to all secretaries and heads of departments, confirming the government order increasing the period of maternity leave for government employees to 12 months from the existing nine months.

The letter was issued from the office of the chief secretary on Friday, making official the announcement made by state finance minister P T R Palanivel Thiagarajan during the assembly session last month and the subsequent government order passed on August 23. “The maternity leave admissible to married women government servants with less than two surviving children, which is nine months (270 days) at present, be enhanced to 12 months with effect from July 1, with full pay, which may be spread over from the pre-confinement rest to post confinement recuperation, at the option of the women government servants,” the letter stated.

Government employees who proceeded on maternity leave prior to July 1 and continue to be on that leave shall also be eligible for maternity leave for a period not exceeding 365 days in total. Women employees who rejoined duty between July 1 and August 28 (date of GO) after 270 days of maternity break may also be given leave for three more months, the letter added.

The announcement was one of the DMK’s poll promises. The policy will help the state’s target of increasing the number of infants who are breastfed in the first six months of life. It will also help mothers get back to good health, said officials from the social welfare department. “Tamil Nadu provides cash benefits, free vaccination and nutrition supplement for mothers and babies. But several mothers are not able to take care of themselves and their babies because they don’t have enough time,” said a senior social welfare official. The longer maternity leave will change this, the official said

Stalin gifts Rs 6,480 crore DA hike to TN govt employees

Stalin gifts Rs 6,480 crore DA hike to TN govt employees

13 welfare measures announced for govt staff, pensioners, teachers ,CM promises to fulfil all fair demands of employees ,‘Ban on public Chaturthi festivities based on Centre’s advice’

Published: 08th September 2021 05:11 AM

Chief Minister MK Stalin. (Photo | EPS)

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Chief Minister MK Stalin on Tuesday announced a slew of welfare measures including early DA hike for around 16 lakh government employees, teachers and pensioners. In a significant move, he said the practice of placing a government employee under suspension on the day of his retirement would be dropped. He also promised that his government would fulfil the fair demands of government employees step by step.

Policemen carrying a bubble top water

can during the Assembly session on Tuesday | R Satish Babu

The announcements came in the backdrop of government employee unions demanding DA hike with retrospective effect from July. Recently, the pensioners staged agitation in this regard. Making a statement under Rule 110 in the State Assembly, the Chief Minister said a hike in dearness allowance for government employees and pensioners will be enforced from January 1, 2022 instead of April 1, 2022 accepting representations from the unions.

“This is being done despite difficult financial constraints faced by the government. This will cost an additional expenditure of Rs 1,620 crore to the State Exchequer and annually, the expenditure would be Rs 6,480 crore,” the Chief Minister said. Leaders of various political parties in the Assembly welcomed the announcements.

Talking to Express, M Anbarasu, president, Tamil Nadu Government Employees Association said, “We welcome the announcements of the Chief Minister. However, it failed to make us happy because what we expect is DA hike from July when the Central government announced it. Tamil Nadu government employees used to get DA hike on par with Central government employees whenever it was announced. Now, enforcing the DA hike just three months ahead makes no difference.”

Information dept

Minister MP Saminathan announced several welfare measures for journalists

Establishment of a welfare board to ensure effective implementation of the welfare schemes for working journalists

Hike in financial assistance given to the families of journalists who die in harness from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 5 lakh

Financial assistance to journalists who wish to train themselves by joining reputed institutions

Kalaignar Ezhuthukol Award for a journalist who contributes to the upliftment of society

Statues of freedom fighters and scholars will be installed in various parts of the State

Law Dept

Minister S Regupathy announced plans pertaining to various law colleges and courts

A new law college to be established at Karaikudi

Rs 28 lakhs to be allocated for conducting international workshops and seminars

English training for govt law college students

Two legal research centres at Tamil Nadu National Law University, Trichy

An additional law officers block to be constructed in the Madurai bench of Madras HC at a cost of Rs 4.28 crores

Chief judicial magistrate courts to be set up at Kallakuruchi, Tenkasi, Ranipet, Kancheepuram, Mayiladuthurai and Tirupattur

Key announcements made by CM MK Stalin

The Chief Minister announced a slew of measures for the welfare of government employees and pensioners in the State

Hike in DA for 16 lakh government employees and pensioners from January 1, 2022

Retirement age of 29,137 cooks and 24,576 asst cooks working for nutritious meal scheme will be increased from 58 to 60

Disciplinary proceedings against teachers who took part in the strike during the previous AIADMK government will be dropped. If their promotional aspects were affected due to the disciplinary action, it would also be set right. Besides, those who were transferred during the strike, will be given priority in the counselling for transfers

Steps to fill vacancies for junior assistant posts in government schools

The period of suspension and period of agitation of govt employees who struck work during AIADMK government in 2016, 2017 & 2019 will be treated as service period

Orders will be issued to provide treatment for the children of government employees who depend on them irrespective of their age under the health insurance scheme

Practice of suspending an employee on the date of his retirement will be dropped

Appropriate guidelines will be issued for appointing legal heirs of the government employees who die in harness on compassionate grounds

Incentive for additional educational qualifications acquired during the service period to government employees which was cancelled in 2020 will be resumed soon

Considering the increase in the number of students getting admitted to the government schools, an appropriate number of teachers will be recruited to fulfil the student-teacher ratio

For Corona infection, treatment cost above `10 lakh will be allowed under the health insurance scheme for government employees

Training will be given to government employees at the district level to simplify and expedite works of the Treasuries and Accounts Department

Training will be given to newly appointed govt employees and those who are promoted to higher positions, in their respective districts

Electricity dept

Minister V Senthil Balaji said steps to boost power generation and facilitate consumption will be taken up

One lakh agriculture service electricity connections

A 4,000 MW solar power generation plant with a solar power bank of 2000 MW capacity

Two hydropower generation plants with a capacity of 500 MW at Kothaiyar in Kanniyakumari district and at Manalar in Theni district

A total of 159 EB sub-stations to be set up at a cost of Rs 1,979 crore

Smart meters to be set up on transformers at a cost of Rs 1,270 crore to monitor their performance.

Upgradation of 33 KW sub-stations to 110 KW at a cost of Rs 125 crore

High Voltage Distribution System (HVDS) to set up at 900 feeders at a cost of Rs 5,050 crore

Announcements made for Home, Prohibition and Excise Department

The consolidated pay for TASMAC employees will be hiked by Rs 500 from April next year.

Won’t suspend govt staff on last working day: CM

Won’t suspend govt staff on last working day: CM

08.09.2021

Chief minister M K Stalin on Tuesday said the state government would end the practice of suspending government employees facing disciplinary action and other charges on their last working day. In a statement in the assembly, the CM announced a slew of measures, including advancing disbursement of hike in dearness allowance by three months, which will entail an additional expenditure of ₹620 crore a year, regularize the strike and suspension periods of government employees who participated in strikes in 2016, 2017 and 2019. The state will also cancel disciplinary actions initiated against teachers for such strike and in cases where promotion is affected, they will be rectified, the CM said.

Workers, doctors welcome TN bill on right to sit

Workers, doctors welcome TN bill on right to sit

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:08.09.2021

The state government’s bill mandating all shops and establishments to facilitate seating arrangements for their workers and staff has brought cheer among workers and healthcare professionals.

On Monday, Minister for Labour Welfare and Skill Development C V Ganesan introduced a Bill to amend the Tamil Nadu Shops and Establishments Act, 1947, making it mandatory for shops and establishments to provide seating arrangements for employees working in shops and commercial establishments.

“Considering the plight of the employees, the premises of every establishment shall have suitable seating arrangements for all employees so that they may take advantage of any opportunity to sit which may occur in the course of their work and thereby avoid ‘on their toes’ situation throughout the working hours,” the bill stated.

Women workers in large shopping centres like in T Nagar and Purasawalkam are elated at the announcement as seating arrangements for shopfloor workers and salespersons are not enough. For those with health issues, standing for hours at a stretch takes a toll on their health, doctors said.

In 2018, neighbouring Kerala passed a legislation mandating seating arrangements after women workers protested condemning the same.

Dr N Sekar, former president, Vascular Society of India, said a common health ailment in people who stand for long hours is varicose vein, found among traffic cops, sales persons, waiters and those working in factory units.

Dr Sekar explained that blood tends to stagnate in the leg for those who stand for long hours. Since veins in the calf region have to push the blood back to the heart, there has to be a movement of muscles. If left unattended, blood vessels start enlarging leading to ulcers, blood clots or chronic inflammation on legs.

“As a vascular surgeon, I feel happy about the government’s move. It provides me immense happiness that workers will be offered dignity and respect at their workplace. My hope is that other states adopt it too,” said Dr J Amalorpavanathan, Director of Vascular Surgery (Retd), Madras Medical College and member, Planning commission of Tamil Nadu.

BIG RELIEF: A worker at a textile showroom in T Nagar. A common health ailment in people who stand for long hours is varicose veins

Graft: Govt official gets 2 years in jail

Graft: Govt official gets 2 years in jail

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:08.09.2021

A former assistant executive engineer with the market management committee, Koyambedu wholesale market complex, has been found guilty of graft charges by a special court that also sentenced him for two years imprisonment.

He had demanded a bribe of ₹30,000 from a person who ran a tea stall within the market premises and abused his position as a public servant by threatening the tea stall owner that his shop will be sealed if he did not accede to the official’s demands.

According to the prosecution, M Sivalingam, the former government official had approached the tea shop within the Kamarajar flower market premises on November 3, 2014 and demanded a bribe.

After negotiations, the official had agreed to take an amount of ₹5,000 initially. Unwilling to pay the amount, the tea stall owner preferred a complaint against the official with the vigilance and anti-corruption department.

A trap was laid and on November 17, the accused official met the tea stall owner, who gave chemically coated currency notes to the official. DVAC officials caught him red-handed while accepting the bribe.

Corporation status for Tambaram, five more municipalities

Corporation status for Tambaram, five more municipalities

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:25.08.2021

Six municipalities in Tamil Nadu — Tambaram, Kancheepuram, Kumbakonam, Karur, Cuddalore and Sivakasi — would soon be upgraded into corporations by merging adjoining areas with them, said minister for municipal administration K N Nehru in the assembly on Tuesday.

The move would increase the number of municipal corporations in the state from 15 to 21, help address infrastructure imbalance in areas adjoining urban local bodies and improve the living condition of people, officials said.

Tambaram would be upgraded into a corporation by merging Pallavaram, Sembakkam, Pammal and Anakaputhur municipalities and nearby areas, the minister said while replying to the debate on demand for grants for the municipal administration department. Nehru also announced that Trichy, Nagercoil, Thanjavur and Hosur corporations and Chengalpet, Poonamallee and Mannarkudi municipalities would be expanded by merging nearby developed areas with them.

₹300cr for parks & waterbodies in TN

Waterbodies and parks in urban local bodies across TN will be restored and amenities will be upgraded at a cost of ₹300 crore. The government would also roll out wage employment programme for urban poor in Chennai at a cost of ₹100 crore.

Govt decision will improve infrastructure

The elected members of the local bodies in the territories falling under the new corporations, expanded corporations and expanded municipalities would continue in posts till the next local body elections.

He announced upgradation of Pallapatti, Thittakudi, Mangadu, Kundrathur, Nandhivaram, Guduvanchery, Ponneri, Thiruninravur, Sholingar, Edanganasalai, Taramangalam, Thirumuruganpoondi, Gudalur, Karamadai, Karumathampatti, Madukkarai, Vadalur, Kottakuppam, Thirukovilur, Ulundurpet, Adirampattinam, Manamadurai, Surandai, Kalakadu, Thiruchendur, Kollankode, Mursiri and Lalgudi town panchayats into municipalities. Pugalur municipality would be created by merging Punjaipugalur and TNPL Pugalur town panchayats. The government’s decision to upgrade and expand the urban local bodies would improve the basic amenities and infrastructure in the region by better mobilisation of land resources and finance. Going by the 2011 census, 75% of the male workers in the expanded areas are in non-agricultural sector — an indication of urbanisation of the area, said an official.

மகப்பேறு விடுப்பு; ஊழியர்களுக்கு இடையில் எந்தப் பாகுபாடும் காட்டக் கூடாது: தமிழக அரசுக்கு உயர் நீதிமன்றம் அறிவுறுத்தல்

மகப்பேறு விடுப்பு; ஊழியர்களுக்கு இடையில் எந்தப் பாகுபாடும் காட்டக் கூடாது: தமிழக அரசுக்கு உயர் நீதிமன்றம் அறிவுறுத்தல்

சென்னை

மகப்பேறு விடுப்பு வழங்கும்போது பணி வரன்முறை செய்யப்பட்ட, வரன்முறைப்படுத்தப்படாத ஊழியர்களுக்கு இடையில் எந்தப் பாகுபாடும் காட்டக் கூடாது என, தமிழக அரசுக்கு சென்னை உயர் நீதிமன்றம் அறிவுறுத்தியுள்ளது.

தமிழகத்தில் மணமான பெண் அரசு ஊழியர்களுக்கு வழங்கப்பட்டு வந்த ஊதியத்துடன் கூடிய மகப்பேறு விடுப்பு, 180 நாட்களில் இருந்து 270 நாட்களாக அதிகரித்து, 2016-ம் ஆண்டு பணியாளர் மற்றும் நிர்வாக சீர்திருத்தத் துறை அரசாணை பிறப்பித்தது.

இந்தச் சலுகை, பணி வரன்முறைப்படுத்தப்படாத, தற்காலிகப் பணியாளர்களுக்கும் நீட்டித்து 2020-ம் ஆண்டு உத்தரவிடப்பட்டது.

ஆனால், இந்த அரசாணைகள் அமல்படுத்தப்படவில்லை எனக் கூறி, சென்னையைச் சேர்ந்த வழக்கறிஞர் ராஜகுரு, உயர் நீதிமன்றத்தில் பொதுநல வழக்குத் தாக்கல் செய்திருந்தார்.

சென்னை உயர் நீதிமன்றம்: கோப்புப்படம்

அவர் தனது மனுவில், மாநிலத்தில் பல மாவட்டங்களில் அரசு மருத்துவமனைகளில் பணிபுரியும், பணி வரன்முறைபடுத்தப்படாத, தற்காலிகப் பெண் பணியாளர்கள், மகப்பேறு விடுப்பு வழங்கக் கோரிய விண்ணப்பங்கள் நிலுவையில் உள்ளதாகவும், அவற்றின் மீது எந்த நடவடிக்கையும் எடுக்கப்படவில்லை எனவும் குற்றம் சாட்டியுள்ளார்.

பணி வரன்முறைப்படுத்தப்படாத தற்காலிகப் பணியாளர்களுக்கும் மகப்பேறு விடுப்பை ஊதியத்துடன் வழங்க உத்தரவிட வேண்டும் எனவும், இது தொடர்பான அரசாணையை முறையாக அமல்படுத்த அரசுக்கு உத்தரவிட வேண்டும் எனவும் மனுவில் கோரிக்கை விடுத்துள்ளார்.

இந்த வழக்கை விசாரித்த தலைமை நீதிபதி சஞ்ஜிப் பானர்ஜி மற்றும் நீதிபதி கிருபாகரன் அடங்கிய அமர்வு, மகப்பேறு விடுப்பு வழங்குவதில் பணி வரன்முறைப்படுத்தப்பட்ட, வரன்முறைப்படுத்தப்படாத அரசு ஊழியர்களுக்கு இடையில் எந்தப் பாகுபாடும் காட்டக் கூடாது என அறிவுறுத்தி, ஒரே மாதிரியாக மகப்பேறு விடுப்பு வழங்க வேண்டும் என அரசுக்கு உத்தரவிட்டது.

Now get building permits within 30 days

Now get building permits within 30 days

Corpn Move To Make Process Smoother For Applicants

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:17.08.2021

Taking a strong note of residents being made to run from pillar to post for getting building approvals, the city corporation has directed all its zonal officials to ensure the documents are issued within 30 days of receiving applications. The civic body is also considering to move the entire process online to reduce hassles.

A circular from the executive engineer (works) in the corporation headquarters, issued last week on instructions of GCC commissioner to all zonal officers and headquarters engineers concerned, stated that all applications should be dealt with within 30 days unless there are valid reasons for delay.

“Residents and commercial establishments were being made to run in circles without being told what the procedure to obtain building approvals was. The circular will help applicants be informed of the process,” a senior GCC official said.

The circular also gives a clear timeline for processing the applications. Assistant executive engineers are to make a site visit within five days of admitting the application, enter the inspection report online within the next two days and must verify documents within the next five days. If any additional document is needed, a request must be sent to the applicant within 48 hours and the applicant must submit it online within 15 days thereafter. Fee calculation will be done online and the authority will have to provide the approval within 15 days of document scrutiny.

The circular also stated that the corporation is contemplating doing away with the submission of hard copies of documents. Until the process is moved online, a separate counter will be created in every zonal office for receiving documents for applications submitted online, it added. Applicants will be given an acknowledgment with the application number and an entry will be made in the register after receiving the documents.

At GCC headquarters, the document submission counter will be managed by assistant executive engineer on the fifth floor of Amma Maligai.

The powers delegated to zonal officials means that planning approvals for non-high rise residential and commercial buildings (with FSI area of maximum 464.5sqm and ground + first floor or stilt + 2 floors up to a height of 9 metres) can now be sanctioned by zonal executive engineers at zonal offices. They will also process demolition applications.

Only permits for buildings with FSI area above 464.5sqm to 929sqm with 12m height will go to chief engineer (planning) in the headquarters for approval. Buildings constructed to a height of 18.3m will be approved by the GCC commissioner.

Govt staff demand DA revision, stage protest

Govt staff demand DA revision, stage protest

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Madurai:17.08.2021

Seeking revision of their dearness allowance (DA) that has been frozen at 17% and will not be revised till April 2022, thousands of staff and officials from state government departments staged protests and wore black badges on Monday to grab the attention of the Tamil Nadu government. The Tamil Nadu government employees association (TNGEA) carried out demonstrations at various government offices in Madurai, Trichy and Coimbatore regions. The state government is supposed to increase DA whenever the Union government does, according to an agreement between the TNGEA and Tamil Nadu government when M G Ramachandran was chief minister.

State general secretary of Tamil Nadu revenue officials association, M P Murugaian said that the Union government that froze DA from January 2019 has announced revised DA at 28% from last month. But the state government has postponed it by eight months, due to which employees are losing around 10% of their salary for this period.

TNGEA Trichy district vice-president V Mohan said that this agreement has not been honoured this time by delaying the increase of DA. “Our association will decide on our next move in the executive committee meeting to be held in Erode on August 21,” he added.

The protesters also sought scrapping of the contributory pension scheme that is in effect from 2004 and introduce the old pension scheme. Their other demand included releasing the Rs 25 lakh compensation for the kin of frontline workers who died in the second wave of Covid-19.

Guru Tamilarasu district president of Tamil Nadu government all department pensioners association said that nearly 7.5 lakh pensioners across the state are affected by the frozen DA.

In Coimbatore, the protests took place at 15 places including district collector office, Thudiyalur ITI, HR and CE office, PF office in Kavundampalam and in front of Sulur taluk office. The association's district secretary B Senthil Kumar and president Balraj led the protest in front of the district administration.

The Tamil Nadu government employees association (TNGEA) carried out demonstrations at various government offices in Madurai, Trichy and Coimbatore regions

TN extends maternity leave for govt employees

TN extends maternity leave for govt employees

Team TOI

Chennai:14.08.2021

Tamil Nadu has enhanced the period of maternity leave for women government employees to one year from 9 months as promised in the DMK's election manifesto.

Finance minister Palanivel Thiagarajan announced the extension of leave on the floor of assembly during his maiden budget speech on Friday.

The scheme will be restricted to women with less than two surviving children with effect from July 1, he said, amid applause from his cabinet colleagues and other members.

The policy will help the state’s target of increasing the number of babies being exclusively breastfed in the first six months of life, help them receive vaccinations and care for their nutritional status. The maternity leave will help mothers get back to good health in a short period of time, said officials from the social welfare department.

“Tamil Nadu provides cash benefits, free vaccination and nutrition supplement for mothers and babies. But several mothers are not able to care of themselves and their babies because they don’t have the time,” said a senior social welfare department official. “This will change, with longer maternity leave,” she said.

NEET could prove to be govt's most troublesome test

NEET could prove to be govt's most troublesome test

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

13.08.2021

In its first 100 days, the DMK government took two major decisions in education. One was to conduct reexam for more than 4.25 lakh engineering students who appeared for a proctored online test in February. Second, when a majority of parents and teachers wanted the Class XII state board exams to be held, CM Stalin decided to cancel them based on views of medical experts.

Academics called the first move regressive. Anna University was the only state university in the country to come up with proctored online tests to conduct a semblance of an exam during the pandemic. Instead of helping other state universities develop such online assessment tools and improve assessment standard, the state brought down the standard of Anna University exams to the level of other universities.

The second decision had to be taken in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. The government had to come up with a weightage system keeping in mind the interests of rural and urban students and gave 50% weightage to Class X board exam marks. It affected the top scoring students as there was little difference between them and others. A majority of students and parents, however, were happy in the end.

There are many positives in the approach of the new government. It appointed a committee headed by Justice A K Rajan to study the impact of NEET in medical admissions and another headed by Justice D Murugesan to study the representation of government school students in professional courses.

Now, with schools and colleges set to reopen physical classes, more challenges await the government. They include bringing back dropouts, preventing child marriages and retaining students in government schools. More than 2 lakh children moved to government and aided schools from private schools. Government colleges and state universities are crippled with faculty shortages and financial crises. At least three state universities are on the verge of collapse. Education will be one of the key parameters in which the success or failure of the DMK government will be rated.