Date:19/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/19/stories/2007071959830400.htm

Tamil Nadu

Refund Rs.25 crore, TEA urges ESIC

Staff Reporter

TIRUPUR: In the wake of recent Supreme Court verdict in regard to payment of ESI for the workers of job-working units, the Tirupur Exporters’ Association has appealed to the Employees State Insurance Corporation to refund around Rs.25 crore paid by the exporters here.

In a letter to Prabhat Chandra Chaturvedi, Director General of ESIC, the TEA president A. Sakthivel on Monday pointed out that the Supreme Court has ruled that the principal employer was not liable to pay ESI on outside job works.

He requested the DG to direct the Joint Director, Coimbatore sub regional Office, to refund the amount paid by the exporters for outside job-works immediately.

Stating that the exporting community was passing through a difficult time following appreciation of rupee against US dollar and increasing interest rates, Mr. Sakthivel said the refund of amount would help the exporters to improve their financial position.

Water connections

Veerapandi village panchayat administration adjoining to the Tirupur Municipality receives applications from the residents for drinking water connections. According to the sources, the local body has sanctions from the Government to provide about 1,500 household water supply connections.