Hundreds of retired transport employees besieged the corporations’ head offices in Chennai, Villupuram, Madurai, and other parts of the state, demanding that the corporations pay them the revised dearness allowance (DA) and release their pending retirement benefits.

Protesters occupying MTC headquarters on Pallavan Salai claimed that the final settlement for those who retired in 2016 had not yet been paid in full. They also claimed that the DA for pensioners was not increased to the same level as that for retired central government employees.

Several stages of protests were held by transport department employees during the previous AIADMK regime, demanding that government transport workers be paid Dearness Allowance, which has been discontinued since 2016.

MK Stalin, the then-opposition leader of Tamil Nadu, promised the transport department employee that if they were elected to power, they would provide them the Dearness allowance that was stopped. However, even after many months of DMK rule, the demand has not been met. Protesting the DMK government’s inaction after being elected, retired State Transport Corporation employees besieged the State Transport Corporation zonal office and staged a road blockade.

In a similar protest in Trichy, the Collectorate Road was completely blocked. The police, who had received the information, rushed in and negotiated with the protestors, forcing them to abandon their protest. As a result, traffic in the district was disrupted for over an hour.

In Coimbatore, police arrested 875 retired government transport employees who were on strike, demanding payment of benefits on their retirement day. They besieged the Government Transport Head Office on Mettupalayam Road and staged a protest.

Protesters stated that demonstrations were held in 9 government transport zones across the state, condemning the Tamil Nadu government for failing to implement a High Court order directing to provide DA for 87 months and for appealing the High Court order against the transport workers.

(With inputs from Thanthi and Malaimurasu)

Click here to subscribe to The Commune on Telegram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

The post Ex Transport Staffs Protest Across State Urging Stalin To Fulfill His Election Promise appeared first on The Commune.

Puthiya Tamilagam Chief Dr. Krishnasamy has slammed the DMK for using the anti-Hindi imposition protest and opposition to Governor RN Ravi as a shield to conceal its defeat in governance.

Puthiya Tamilagam Party held a party functionary meeting at a private wedding hall in Kovilpatti, Thoothukudi district, headed by its President Dr. Krishnasamy. Following this, a protest was held in front of the Kovilpatti taluk office, condemning the DMK government and demanding that the electricity tariff increase be reversed.

Dr. Krishnasamy, who spoke to the Press after the protest, said, ” The DMK stated in its last election manifesto that electricity readings would be taken once a month. However, the DMK government has raised the electricity tariff. The DMK, which claims to be the Dravidian model, must fulfill its promise in words and action.”

He added,” Coimbatore is becoming a hub for terrorists. International conspiracies are centered around Coimbatore. A social harmony rally will be held in Coimbatore on November 17th to create harmony among people from all walks of life. It will be attended by people of all religions.”

He said, “Even after 18 months in power, the DMK has yet to implement a complete prohibition of alcohol in Tamil Nadu, despite having promised to do so. The DMK is breaking all of its promises. The DMK government has been criticizing the governor and using anti-Hindi protests to cover up its governance failures.” He added that the DMK government is fighting against the imposition of unimposed Hindi.

He further said, ” The price of milk has been hiked due to mismanagement in the Aavin department, and not because of an increase in procurement costs. The government should publish a white paper on milk procurement prices. The DMK will face backlash for raising milk prices in the near future.”

“Why didn’t the government take preventative measures when it was clear that rain would cause problems in Chennai? The DMK government is losing ground on a daily basis, and everyone from MPs to MLAs to panchayat leaders is involved in mineral looting,” he stated.

He concluded by saying, “DMK officials are illegally operating bars near TASMAC outlets. Everything is going wrong and against the promises made by the DMK government. When they are unable to carry out their promise of implementing the old pension scheme and resolving transport department issues, they resort to anti-Hindi imposition to conceal their failure in governance. Where is the imposition of Hindi? The DMK is giving the impression that Hindi is being imposed.”

(with inputs from Samayam Tamil)

Click here to subscribe to The Commune on Telegram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

The post Anti-Hindi Protests A Decoy, Says Dr. Krishnasamy appeared first on The Commune.

The final list of beneficiaries of Public Jewellery loan waivers in Co-operative Banks, after analysing the details already obtained has revealed that almost 35,37,693 borrowers are ineligible for jewellery loan waivers.

A Shanmughasundaram, IAS and Registrar of Co-operative Banks, has released a final list of beneficiaries of public jewellery loan waivers in Co-operative Banks. The announcement shockingly included that about 35,37,693 borrowers were ineligible for the waiver, out of an analysis of the details of 48,84,726 beneficiaries already received.

Earlier in the month of September, TN CM M K Stalin announced that the Co-operative banks would waive loans for those who have taken within 5 sovereigns of Gold, during a meeting of the legislature. Further, the Government of Tamil Nadu later released an official order to this effect under rule 110.

The order stated, “Jewellery loans upto 5 sovereigns per family will be waived, which under some conditions will truly poor and simple people. It is estimated that the expenditure for the government for waiving jewellery loans of up to 5 sovereigns per eligible family, is estimated at ₹ 6,000 crores, on the basis of preliminary study. The Tamil Nadu government will do the needed to help the Co-operative banks for this purpose.”

However, the government has now said that all those who have taken loan for even 1 gram more than 40 grams, those who have a government hob, those who work at co-operative banks and those who provided incorrect Aadhar details, etc. are not eligible for this loan waiver. This comes after the government has analysed details of 48,84,726 through a computerised system.

MK Stalin during election campaign had stated that he had already assured to waive jewel loans of up to five sovereigns availed by the poor, farmers and particularly women.

The DMK had promised in its election manifesto that it will waiver the gold loans under 5 sovereign (40 grams) taken by people in co-operative banks.

It is worth mentioning that CM Stalin’s son and Chepauk-Tiruvallikeni MLA Udhayanidhi Stalin had instigated people to pledge their jewels and take loans during election campaigns saying that they would be waived off when DMK comes to power. As a result of this, many in rural Tamil Nadu had pledged their jewels and taken loans.

Click here to subscribe to The Commune on Telegram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.

The post DMK Govt says 35 lakh jewel loans of the 48 lakh are not eligible for loan waiver appeared first on The Commune.