CHENNAI: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Thursday announced the Government's decision to provide a Pongal bonus of Rs.2500 for "C' and `D' grade employees and a special bonus of Rs.825 for `A' and `B' grade employees for 2005-06.

Though the reinstated road mazdoors were not eligible for bonus this year as per the service rules and norms, the Government would provide Rs. 825 as exgratia for each of them, an official release here said. Pensioners and beneficiaries of family pension scheme would get an exgratia of Rs.150. The Government's decision would cost Rs.250 crore to the exchequer.

Beneficiaries

A total of 12.43 lakh government employees and 5.10 lakh pensioners and persons receiving family pension were among the beneficiaries, the release said. In 2001, the then Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government disbursed Rs. 2500 as Pongal bonus and Rs. 825 as special bonus.

However, in the subsequent years the benefit was put on hold by the previous All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Government, the release said.

It was announced in the 2006-2007 budget that disbursement of bonus would be restored. Employees and teachers of the local bodies and the aided educational institutions were also eligible for the bonus, the release said and added that special bonus would be disbursed to miscellaneous full-time and part-time employees, employees who received consolidated pay, staff of the noon meal centres, village assistants, temporary employees appointed on contract basis in 2003 and casual workers who had completed 240 days of service.

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