VIRUDHUNAGAR
Even as protests over relocation of TASMAC liquor shops continued in Virudhunagar district, over 200 employees of 90 shops, which were closed on March 31, came to streets here on Thursday, seeking alternative employment.
Police said 231 TASMAC employees staged a dharna in front of the Collectorate seeking alternative government jobs. “Ninety of the 164 retail liquor shops were closed down. Government officials are forcing us to scout for alternative locations to shift the shops,” said M. Chandrabose, Virudhunagar president of Tamil Nadu Government TASMAC Employees Association.
Stating that there was immense pressure from local politicians and public, especially, women, against relocating TASMAC shops in new areas, Mr. Chandrabose said it had almost become impossible to have new shops.
“Even the police are not allowing us to open the shops when public start protesting. They want us to shut the shops citing law and order problem,” he said.
Each shop had four to seven employees, he said, adding around 700 employees were now rendered jobless.
“The officials asked the workers to relocate the shops by April 15 or hand over the unsold stock and wait for further orders,” said K. Balasubramanian, State honorary president of the association.
The government employed the workers, based on their educational qualification, in 2003 following due recruitment process through Employment Exchange.
They had been working in TASMAC shops for the last 14 years. “Now, the Supreme Court has ordered closure of hundreds of shops and the government has also announced its policy to phase them out. Hence, TASMAC employees should be used to fill up the existing vacancies in various departments based on their educational qualification,” Mr. Balasubramanian said.
The salary of TASMAC employees was in the range of ₹3,800 to ₹7,000.
The protests against relocation of TASMAC shops witnessed the participation of college students on Thursday.
Over 2,000 students of Devangar Arts College blocked Aruppukottai-Tiruchuli Highway, pressing for the removal of a TASMAC shop relocated to Kanjanaickanpatti Road opposite the college from Tiruchuli highway.
The students’ protest continued for nearly an hour. Revenue officials told the students that the shop had been located 500 metre away from the highway as per Supreme Court guidelines. If the students had any objection, they could take legal recourse, they said.
The shop that was opened on Sunday continued its business after the students dispersed, the police said.
Meanwhile, some 150 people from Mettur in Alangulam blocked Rajapalayam-Alangakulam Road for 45 minutes, seeking removal of another liquor shop relocated to a place near Karisalkulam junction.
