Date:23/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/23/stories/2008082357930600.htm

Tamil Nadu

Contract workers, families observe fast

Staff Reporter

KARUR: Hundreds of members of TNPL Contract Workers’ Progressive Union affiliated to the DMK staged a fast in front of the paper major’s factory at Kagithapuram near Velayuthampalayam in Karur district on Friday. The protesting members’ families too participated in the fast. Their major demand is job regularisation for 1,600 workers on contract for the past 24 years.

DMK district secretary Vasuki Murugesan declared open the fast which the Union’s president V. Rathinavelu presided over. Karur MP K.C. Palanisamy, District Panchayat chairperson Poovai Ramesh Babu, Karur Municipal Chairperson P. Sivakamsundari, Karur Panchayat Union chairperson Valarmathi Chidambaram and others spoke. Thozhilalar Munnetra Sangam’s M.R. Mayazhagu offered a glass of juice to the leaders to mark the end of fast.

Grievances meet

Farmers’ grievances day meet would be conducted at 11 a.m. on August 29 at the RDO office in Kulithalai, according to a press release issued by Collector T.N. Venkatesh on Friday. Only petitions submitted in advance would be taken up for discussion, the note added.

Health insurance scheme

Over 8,000 State Government employees would stand to gain through the new health insurance scheme launched recently in Karur district. Mr. Venkatesh distributed identity cards to beneficiary employees in Karur on Friday.

Employees and eligible kin could get treatment at accredited hospitals across the State for a maximum of Rs. 2 lakh over a period of four years, Mr. Venkatesh said.

Self-help group

Mr. Venkatesh reiterated that every women self-help group should contain at least 12 members to become eligible for rating after six months and disbursal of revolving fund.

Members should also maintain the records and exceptionally performing groups would be sanctioned economic development assistance, he said after inspecting the performance of an SHG at Sanapiratti in Thanthoni Panchayat Union on Thursday.

Vocational training

Mr. Venkatesh has called upon qualified and accredited institutions imparting technical and vocational training in areas such as food catering and food preparation, nursing assistant, plumber, AC mechanic and diesel mechanic courses to apply for absorbing students under TAHDCO schemes. Applications should reach the office of the District Manager, TAHDCO, before August 27, he has noted in a press release issued here.