Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Govt ready to rehabilitate beedi workers: CM

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI MAY 10. While insisting that the Bill to prevent smoking and spitting in public places would not affect beedi workers, the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, today promised the Assembly that the Government was prepared to help in their rehabilitation if necessary.

Intervening during the debate on the Bill, she said the Government had in mind the interests of future generations while preparing the legislation.

The Supreme Court too had banned smoking in public places, she pointed out. There was no ban on manufacture or sale of beedis.

When some Opposition members pleaded for relaxation of the restriction on sale of cigarette within 100 metres of educational institutions, the Chief Minister said those who wanted to smoke would purchase it irrespective of the curb.

The Health Minister, S. Semmalai, said smoking affected not only the smokers but also others.

The Bill was in the interest of public health, he added.

Later, the House passed the Prohibition of Smoking and Spitting Bill by voice vote.

Universities Act

Amid objections from the DMK, the CPI and the CPI (M), the House passed the Tamil Nadu Universities Laws (Amendment) Act, 2002, which virtually does away with the concept of government colleges.

With this legislation, all government colleges would become constituents of universities.

As K. Ponmudi (DMK) and K. Balabarathi (CPI-M) raised apprehensions that tuition fee in government colleges might go up and that the salaries and perks of teachers might be affected, the Education Minister, M. Thambi Durai, insisted there was no room for concern.

The legislation was aimed at improving the quality of higher education and minimising government interference in collegiate education.

He maintained that the universities could not raise the tuition fee unilaterally and a decision would have to be taken only after approval by the Syndicate and the Senate.

Also, there would be no change in the service conditions of government college staff and in fact, their retirement age would go up from 58 to 60, on par with that for university staff.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

News: Front Page | National | Southern States | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary |

Stories in this Section

• Strike ban Bill passed after walkout
• Stalin has 15 days to choose between two posts
• `TN receipts not matching expenditure'
• Govt ready to rehabilitate beedi workers: CM
• Balan case accused surrenders
• AIADMK MP joins issue with women's forum
• Madurai Mayor-CM meet plan raises eyebrows in DMK
• 'Annadhanam' at Sabarimala mooted
• Now, Durai Murugan, Ponmudi exchange words
• 8 file papers for Saidapet seat
• Majestic statue lies sprawling on floor
• 'Videoconferencing only to prevent escape'

Copyright © 2002, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu