Stating that hundreds of salesmen have been rendered jobless after the government closed retail liquor outlets as part of its policy and on the orders of the Supreme Court, members of the Tamil Nadu TASMAC employees association have urged the district administration to secure them alternative jobs after taking up the issue with the government.
In a memorandum submitted to Collector S. Natarajan here on public grievance redressal day on Monday, members of the association led by its district president K. Muruganandam said about 20,000 salesmen and assistants have lost their jobs after the government closed 4,321 shops.
The government closed a few hundred shops on its own as part of its policy to impose prohibition in a phased manner, and it closed hundreds of shops located on State and National highways on the orders of the Supreme Court, Mr. Muruganandam said. About 20,000 employees working in the shops have lost their jobs and were struggling to make both ends meet for several months now, he said.
Most of the shops which were located on the highways could not be relocated following stiff public protest in several areas, he said. Officials insisted that the workers found alternative sites, but they were helpless, he said. These workers could be considered to fill up existing vacancies in all departments, he suggested.
He urged the Collector to take up the issue with the government and secure alternative employment to those who had lost jobs in the district. The government could provide them alternative employment based on their educational qualification and experience. Most of them had served for about 14 years, he said.
Unable to overcome the stress, some of the employees have ended their lives, he said and wanted the government to provide compensation to their families or employment to one of the family members.
Dindigul
The Tamil Nadu TASMAC Workers Association has appealed to the State government to appoint 20,000 employees, who were rendered jobless owing to closure of TASMAC shops, in other government departments for their survival. In a statement here on Monday, the association District Organiser K. Vijaya Kumar said that the State, as per court order, had closed 1,321 shops leaving 20,000 workers jobless. They could be appointed in other government departments on the basis of their educational qualification and seniority.
These workers, who served in these shops for the past 14 years, did not enjoy any benefit. Job permanency, time scale pay and job protection were their distant dreams. They had been working for meagre wages, he pointed out.
A sum of ₹ 5 lakh as retirement benefit to retired staff, pension benefits and rectification of discrepancies in seniority list released in Virudhunagar, Cuddalore, Thoothukudi, Sivaganga and Theni districts were their other demands.
Earlier, the TASMAC had 6,500 shops employing around 30,000 workers.
