Big Makeover
More than 22,000 contractual employees of the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac) posted at retail vending shops and depots will receive an enhanced salary of up to ₹33,000 from this month. The management has issued a circular to all senior regional managers to calculate their salary retrospectively from Sept 1. After the TVK govt took over, the salaries of Tasmac workers were revised twice in 100 days, and the second revision was announced by prohibition minister K Vignesh in the assembly on Aug 31 with a warning to workers not to overcharge liquor buyers beyond maximum retail price. In the latest circular, Tasmac managing director K Nanthakumar said the monthly remuneration of supervisors has been increased by ₹10,710 (total ₹33,023), while that of salesmen has gone up by ₹10,871 (total ₹30,284). The pay of assistant salesmen has been enhanced by ₹10,755 (total 28,680). Also, the employee’s share will be calculated at 12% of the enhanced wages, while the employer’s 12% contribution will be borne by Tasmac as approved by its board. Tasmac has already rolled out a series of welfare measures, including festival advance up to ₹20,000 and ₹6,000 for three sets of uniforms every year, as announced in the assembly by the minister. In Tiruvallur district, 165 Tasmac personnel have been placed under suspension in the last week. Tasmac sources said that the drive would be intensified from Oct 1 through surprise checks by special squads.
Tasmac sources said action on MRP violation would get more stringent now. Pandian C of Selaiyur said the liquor shop on the camp road does not accept payment by UPI or card, stating that the server is down. Chennai: It is official now. Tasmac has also been suspending employees who continue to indulge in MRP violations, though complaints of overcharging for liquor have been pouring in via Tasmac’s social media handles and WhatsApp number. Customers complain that the personnel at Tasmac outlets continue to fleece buyers and come up with unique methods by forcing those paying digitally to wait in long queues while prioritising those paying cash to buy liquor.