TASMAC liquor shop employees and members of a protest coordination committee held a sit-in demonstration at Egmore in Chennai on Friday, pressing for long-pending service-related demands. Organisers said more than 500 people took part.
The protesters said liquor shop staff have been working on consolidated pay since 2003, for about 23 years. They demanded regularisation of service along with time-scale pay and pension benefits.
According to the group, Prohibition and Excise Minister Muthusamy had earlier said a committee of senior government officials would be formed and a decision would be taken after receiving its report. The protesters said the sit-in was held in opposition to the report not being made public.
They added that the agitation was being paused as elections are set to begin, but warned that protests would be renewed after the polls, on the day the new Chief Minister takes oath, if their demands are not met.
Separately, revenue department village assistants have been holding a sit-in since February 5 seeking time-scale pay equivalent to fourth-grade staff. A federation of over 10 revenue department unions has announced a token strike by taking casual leave on March 10 and 11 in support.
In another development, the Government Doctors’ Legal Struggle Committee said transfer counselling was not held for obstetrics despite 57 vacancies, and urged the Health Minister to intervene. The committee also opposed a government move to reduce paediatrics posts to create super-specialist neonatal positions.
