Tamil Nadu all set for shutdown for CMB, drought relief

CHENNAI: The state is all set for a near total shutdown of activities on Tuesday with leading traders associations, transport unions and the tinsel town extending support to the general strike called by the Opposition parties with demands of setting up Cauvery Management Board, waiver of crop loans and drought relief.

The traders associations led by T. Vellaiyan and A.M. Vikramaraja have extended support to the strike call, while all the major transport unions like the CITU, AITUC, LPF and others have vowed to take part in the shutdown. The government has promised to operate the buses with police protection and the ruling party union members are expected to maintain skeletal service. The autorickshaw unions have announced that their vehicles will be off the road to support the farmers. Lorry owners too have declared their participation.

However, lack of transport is unlikely to affect school students as they are in summer vacation and the government staff too are unlikely to be hit since they have announced a strike. Kollywood will join the strike and theatres will be closed in the morning. However, milk supply would not be hit since they would join the strike only after 8 am and petrol pump employees would work sporting black badges.

Section of state employees to begin indefinite strike:

Co-inciding with the general strike on Tuesday, the CPM-related union of the government employees will launch an indefinite strike demanding abolition of new pension scheme and 20 per cent interim relief. However, the Tamil Nadu Government Officials Union, the major one which is recognised by the government will not take part in the strike. Besides, the Secretariat Association too would not participate in the strike.

M. Subramanian, president of Tamil Nadu Government Employees Union, associated with the CPM said “We have approached the government insisting on our demands. But, it has turned a deaf ear to us”. In 1988, 1996 and 2001, interim relief had been given even before negotiations. The present government is denying interim relief, he said. “We have issued notice to the government three months ago. If there is no response for our demands. So, we have no other option other than going for a strike. We will start an indefinite strike from Tuesday”, he said. The union leader further said employees of 61 departments including noon-meal scheme, anganwadi, revenue, education, PWD , transport, commercial taxes, agriculture and local bodies would take part in the strike.

“If there is no solution, we have decided to start an indefinite fast from May 2 throughout the state. This will be a huge set back to the government since it would affect preparation of voters list for the local body elections. Since, revenue department is participating, people will not be able to get any certificate including community and income”. The tax collection of local bodies would be affected due to the strike and water scarcity problems would increase. The government will lose Rs. 300 to 500 crore per day since five lakh employees would take part, he said.

However, the Tamil Nadu Government Officials Union (NGO Union) president R. Shanmugarajan said his union would not take part. But, he added that they had placed a demand. The government had set up a five-member committee to decide wage revision which will take six months time to come out with recommendations. “There is no hurry for the strike which is not necessary”, he added.

The committee comprised secretaries for finance, home, education and Personnel and administrative reforms. Besides, P. Umanath would be the member secretary, he said. “The committee is holding talks with us. The strike is politically motivated. When the government itself is unstable, how can the talks take place?”, he said. Shanmugarajan said the total number of employees is about 15 lakh and 90 per cent of them would not take part in the strike. He also requested the Chief Secretary to provide security to the employees who attend for duty.