writingonblog uncensored: Chief Commissioner of Central Excise under CBI sca...

writingonblog uncensored: Chief Commissioner of Central Excise under CBI sca...: Chennai: Central Bureau of Investion, Anti-Corruption Bureau, Chennai registered a case against Janaki Arunkumar, Principal Chief Commissi...

Chief Commissioner of Central Excise under CBI scanner for taking cash for transfers

Chennai:
Central Bureau of Investion, Anti-Corruption Bureau, Chennai registered a case against Janaki Arunkumar, Principal Chief Commissioner of Central Excise, Chennai Zone and four Superintendents of Central Excise, Chennai, for accepting money for making favourable transfer postings.

The four superintendents against whom a case has filed include Paul Sudhakar, Manoharan, Dhanasekaran and Selvaraj, a CBI release said.

It is alleged that the accused persons in criminal conspiracy with each other during November 2016 demanded illegal gratification for making favourable transfer postings of Dhanasekaran, Selvaraj and few other Officers of Central Excise on payment of illegal gratification of Rs 1 lakh per person, said CBI sources.

Further, Paul Sudhakar got appointment of Janaki Arunkumar for delivering Rs 2 lakhs at her residence at Palavakkam, Chennai on Tuesday night accompanied by other accused persons.

CBI said that searches were conducted at seven places in Chennai including the residential & official premises of the accused persons which led to recovery of incriminating documents. During searches at the premises of Principal Chief Commissioner, incriminating documents; around 37 liquor bottles including imported liquor; 83 numbers of gold coins weighing 684 grams (approx); cash of Rs. 7.93 lakh (approx) and a cash of Rs.Two lakh as alleged bribe handed over at her residence; Fixed Deposits worth around Rs.1.2 crore(approx); Property documents of five immovable assets at Chennai, Bangaluru & Aurangabad were recovered. Cash of Rs.2.62 lakh (approx); FDs worth around 30 lakh; Locker key and incriminating documents were also recovered from the premises of other accused persons

Chennai flight schedules hit due to fog in Delhi
Chennai:
Flight services from Chennai airport to New Delhi airport as well as New Delhi airport to Chennai Airport were affected for more than one hour on the second day due to the dense fog in Delhi.
The arrivals from Delhi have been delayed by nearly one hour, said a Airport Authority official. Similarly, some flights to Delhi were also hit due to fog. Airport sources said the landing was delayed to fog but flights were not diverted.
Air India spokesman said that their flight AI 143 which departs from Chennai at 8.45 am has been delayed by 75 minutes in view of dense fog.
“Almost all airlines have been hit. The delay has also affected the departure of many flights from Chennai as the connecting flights have been delayed,” said AAI official said.

writingonblog uncensored: DRI arrests four member drug smuggling gang

writingonblog uncensored: DRI arrests four member drug smuggling gang: Chennai: A four-member gang involved  in smuggling narcotic  substances worth Rs 5 crore  through export containers and  speed post we...

DRI arrests four member drug smuggling gang

Chennai:

A four-member gang involved in smuggling narcotic substances worth Rs 5 crore through export containers and speed post were nabbed by Directorate of Revenue Intelligence while they were fleeing Chennai in a tempo traveller on national highway near Chengalpet.

The four, which include mastermind of the gang Syed Musafar Sadiq (32), his accomplices S M Sirajudeen (31), Satish (30) and V Packiakumar (46) were arrested under NDPS Act.

DRI spokesman said that the gang was involved in smuggling Rs 4.8 crore worth Psuedoephedrine, a controlled substance covered under NDPS ACT 1985, through a container, which was to be loaded for export of legging materials to Malaysia. 

“We got a tip off and tracked the container and brought it to Container Freight Station in Manali. During examination of the container which was consigned by M M Exporters in mannady to A R Bright Trading and Resources iMelaka in Malaysia, drug weighing 23.9kg worth Rs 4.78 crore was concealed in bales of cotton dyed fabric (legging materials),” a DRI spokesman said.

In a separate case, DRI officials intercepted a speed post consignment in National Sorting Hub and seized 9990 Alprazolam tablets, a schedule H1 drug covered under NDPS Act, 1985. 

“While further examining the parcel, which was booked by Tariq Ali Khan with address mentioned as Mobeen Tailor in Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh, to one Syed Ali Shah of Mannady in Chennai, we found a total of 10,000 Alprazolam tablets in 33 packets,” the spokesman said.

writingonblog uncensored: Former Port Trust Chairman gets two years rigorous...

writingonblog uncensored: Former Port Trust Chairman gets two years rigorous...: Chennai: The additional special judge  for CBI cases S Jawahar on  Wednesday convicted former  chairman of Chennai Port  Trust K Sure...

Former Port Trust Chairman gets two years rigorous imprisonment for getting favours from realty firm

Chennai:

The additional special judge for CBI cases S Jawahar on Wednesday convicted former chairman of Chennai Port Trust K Suresh for two years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 10,000 in a case filed by Anti corruption Branch.

Suresh, while working as Chairman of Chennai Port Trust in 2009 obtained Rs 12 lakh sponsorship for his son’s admission to BE (Civil Engineering) in Anna University as a favour from Vijayashanti Builders, who were running two Weigh bridges in the premises of Chennai Port Trust during that period.

A charge sheet was filed by CBI against K Suresh before the Principal Special Judge for CBI cases, Chennai under section 11 of Prevention of Corruption Act 1988. 

Suresh, a 1982 batch IAS official, was under CBI scanner during his tenure as Chennai Port Trust chairman from September 2004 till July 2009, when he was repatriated to his home cadre, Madhya Pradesh. 

It is learnt that Suresh’s name figures in two more cases. These include causing a loss of Rs 20 crore to the Chennai Port Trust by allegedly entering into a criminal conspiracy with a Singapore firm. He along with two other officials were accused of abusing their official position to allot a berth in the Chennai Port on April 11, 2007 to a non-functional ship, M V San Giorgio, which had to be towed in to the harbour.

Suresh’s role is also being probed in the alleged embezzlement of funds during installation of a conveyor belt system for transporting coal at a cost of Rs 43 crore in 2009.

The probe began after a complaint alleged that a private player given contract for installation had put up only 250 metres of belt against the mandated length of 275 metres.

writingonblog uncensored: A final General salute from Chennai to GOC Jagbir ...

writingonblog uncensored: A final General salute from Chennai to GOC Jagbir ...: Chennai: Lieutenant General Jagbir Singh, General Officer Commanding, Dakshin Bharat Area, who was instrumental in lending a helping hand ...

A final General salute from Chennai to GOC Jagbir Singh

Chennai:
Lieutenant General Jagbir Singh, General Officer Commanding, Dakshin Bharat Area, who was instrumental in lending a helping hand to civil establishment by deploying army columns and rescuing 21,500 men, women and children during Chennai floods last year, bade farewell after laying the wreath and paying tributes to martyrs.

An alumni of Rashtriya Military School Chail, Lt Gen Singh, retires after 39 years of dedicated service to the Nation. He is succeeded by Lt General R K Anand.

Lt General Singh was instrumental in addressing ex-servicemen grievances. During his tenure Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme Polyclinics (86), Military Hospitals (08), Colleges and Schools in Dakshin Bharat Area have seen significant enhancement in infrastructure, facilities and upgradation in equipment which has resulted in enhanced care and quality of education​

writingonblog uncensored: Union govt asks TN to submit consolidated report o...

writingonblog uncensored: Union govt asks TN to submit consolidated report o...: Chennai: The Union government has  asked the state government to  submit a consolidated report  on the implementation of the  provisions...

Union govt asks TN to submit consolidated report on implementing 3pc job reservation for people with disabilities

Chennai:

The Union government has asked the state government to submit a consolidated report on the implementation of the provisions of Section 33 of Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 by this week.

As per the Section 33 of the Act, both state or Centre should appoint in every establishment atleast 3pc of persons with disabilities like blindness or low vision; hearing impairment  and locomotor disability or cerebral palsy.

The move comes after Supreme Court in its order on October 8, 2014 (Union of India versus National Federation of blind and Other) held that the number of vacancies reserved for People with Disabilities shall be computed on the basis of 3pc reservation on the total number of vacancies in the cadre strength.

The Centre has also asked the state to fill up the backlog vacancies if any meant for People with Disabilities in a time bound manner.

While chief secretary has asked all its departments to submit the report, activists say the state has managed to fill only 0.03pc of vacancies of the 3pc mandated under the Act while citing information available under Right To Information Act.

Coordinator Projects, EQUAL Centre for Promotion of Social Justice Meenakshi Balasubramanian says that

the state government does not have any data on people with disabilities since there is no mandate to desegregate data based on disability in the state.

“At the most state may have data available in districts but beyond districts there is no data on number of people with disabilities,”said Meenakshi.

Interestingly, Meenakshi finds the reservation policy discriminatory as it caters to only people with disabilities like blindness or low vision; hearing impairment and locomotor disability or cerebral palsy. “India has ratified UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2007. The scope of people with disability is wide and is not restricted to these three constituents,” she said.

As per the convention, the disabled are those those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. 

“The government should focus on this benchmark while catering to 3pc reservation for people with disabilities,” she said.

writingonblog uncensored: Krishna water flows into Poondi

writingonblog uncensored: Krishna water flows into Poondi: Chennai: Krishna water began flowing into Poondi reservoir giving some hope to water managers as rains continue to elude the city with...

Krishna water flows into Poondi

Chennai:

Krishna water began flowing into Poondi reservoir giving some hope to water managers as rains continue to elude the city with the water levels dropping to less than 1TMC feet.

"Poondi reservoir is now getting 300 cusecs of water from Kandaleru reservoir in Andhra Pradesh. The water flow would be increased to 500 cusecs. The water reached the reservoir on Saturday night," said a Water Reources Department official.

As per norms, the state should recieve 2TMC feet of Krishna water from Andhra Pradesh. "We have recieved only 336 million cubic feet. We hope Andhra continues to supply water to fulfill its obligation," the source said.

The worrying factor for officials is that Krishna Water in the 152-km-long Kandaleru-Poondi canal is being tapped by ryots illegally for the second crop. The issue has been raised following which water is being released under the surveillance of cops so that water doesn't get diverted.

However, all is not well in Andhra Pradesh also. "There is demand of water for Andhra Pradesh also. The supply would last till there is adequate water in Kandaleru reservoi," sources added.

Meanwhile, the water managers are looking to ground water to fulfill the drinking water supply of the city. The city although has 200 MLD of water through desalination plants on any given day, it is not enough as the city is expanding. Officials are now looking at tapping the private wells to ensure drinking water to the city

writingonblog uncensored: AAI yet to comply with PMO directive on clarifying...

writingonblog uncensored: AAI yet to comply with PMO directive on clarifying...: Chennai: It has been eight months since the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) directed the  Airport  Authority of India to respond to a pet...

AAI yet to comply with PMO directive on clarifying allegations made against secondary runway

Chennai:
It has been eight months since the Prime Minister's Office (PMO)
directed the Airport Authority of India to respond to a petition from
a Chennai resident who alleged that the extension of the Chennai
Airport secondary run way is a wasteful expenditure. But still the
country's sole body which manages the airport is yet to respond to the
petitioner, despite the PMO's directive.

A Krishnamurthy, secretary of Marvel Riverview County Owners Welfare
Association, had submitted the petition in January this year arguing
that the extension of secondary runway from 2,068 metres to 3,100
metres over Adyar River at a cost of Rs 550 crore was a wasteful
expenditure. The PMO asked the Civil Aviation Ministry to respond to
the allegations and the ministry subsequently directed the Airport
Authority of India (AAI) on February 9, 2016 to furnish its comments
on the allegations and upload it in the PMO's portal. But the
authority is yet to give its reply.

The association had alleged that the average actual aircraft movements
per hour for the last eight years was 17 till 2013-14 as per figures
of Airport Authority of India.

“Even if one takes the peak hour movement, it was only 25. There was
no hurry to extend the runway over the Adyar river. The actual
increase in passenger traffic from 2011-2015 is only 10.5pc with an
average of 3.5pc per annum,” the association observed.

Even if the traffic is going to increase in future, the runway
capacity could be increased with rapid exit taxiways and instrument
landing system in place.

“Mumbai airport finds it more effective to operate a single runway and
handles 45 aircraft movements per hour on an average. Experts have
been insisting on technical developments rather than extending the
runway on the river,” said said association member Vijayakumar.

Aviation expert Captain Mohan Ranganathan said he too had sent in a
representation to the Prime Minister’s office and said there is no
need of the secondary runway which hardly caters to wide-bodied
aircraft. “When the runway can only cater to Airbus 320 and 737
aircraft then it is a waste of public money,” he added.

He also alleged that the bottom of the bridge should be 12.4 metres
while taking into account the 2005 floods. “However, it is only 9
metres,” he alleged.

Airport Authority of India officials in Chennai said they are not
aware of any intimation to clarify on allegations pertaining to
secondary runway. "We haven't recieved anything from Delhi," an
official said.

Factfile:

1. The secondary runway construction began in 2009 to accommodate more flights

2. The runway is built over the Adyar river by means of a bridge
including a taxiway

3. The project was completed in 2011 but it failed to meet the
standards of International Civil Aviation Organisation

4. Though secondary runway was increased by 1,032 metres to 3,100 only
2,400 metres could alone be used in the absence of 15 acres of land
for approach lights and obstructions on approach path

5. The first flight landed on May 2014

6. AAI said it is trying to get additional land from Tamil Nadu
government to complete the extension to increase the capacity to 50
aircraft movement per hour

7. With land already identified for Greenfield airport, AAI should not
have gone for secondary runway project, allege activists

writingonblog uncensored: Regional Connectivity Scheme to woo operators wit...

writingonblog uncensored: Regional Connectivity Scheme to woo operators wit...: Chennai: The Regional Connectivity Scheme of Civil Aviation Ministry  will be wooing those operators  having spare aircraft across  t...

Regional Connectivity Scheme to woo operators with spare aircraft

Chennai:

The Regional Connectivity Scheme of Civil Aviation Ministry will be wooing those operators having spare aircraft across the world which could be used in opening the regional routes as it would be economical to operate, according to Union Minister of state for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha.

Addressing the 3rd G Ramachandran Memorial Lecture organised by Southern India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI), the minister said that the country is facing a shortage of aircraft and crew as such the focus is to woo the airlines which could make use of spare aircraft across the globe under the Udan (Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik) programme.

The scheme is designed to jump start the regional aviation market by improving the profitability of under-developed regional routes.

Citing the example of Zoom Air, which is one of the prospective bidder under the regional connectivity scheme, the minister said that it has three 50-seater bombardier jets which is although 10 to 12 years old is quite economical to operate and is airworthy.

He said that the choice of airports to be taken up in the initial stage would depend on the bids by airlines. “The routes would be finalised by January and by February next year the scheme will take off,” he said.

He said the business models for regional connectivity or UDAN is borrowed from United States, Australia where regional markets are linked to main area.

He says that his government is planning to raise Rs 400 crore for Udan by levying fee on flights on metro routes.

writingonblog uncensored: Special hearing on 1,250 pending contempt cases ag...

writingonblog uncensored: Special hearing on 1,250 pending contempt cases ag...: Chennai: The state government has  asked its various departments  to submit a list of pending  contempt cases filed before  the princi...

Special hearing on 1,250 pending contempt cases against TN officials

Chennai:

The state government has asked its various departments to submit a list of pending contempt cases filed before the principal bench and Madurai Bench of Madras High Court.

This comes after it was it was brought to the notice of Madras High Court that approximately 1,447 contempt petitions are pending before single bench and 179 cases relate to division bench.

As per figures available with Madras High Court Registry, of the nearly 1447 pending cases, 1,247 cases pertain to orders passed by judges who have demitted office while 200 are other cases.

The state government has asked the departments to enclose list of cases which have been reported as orders complied or stay obtained either in appeal and in the review.

The officials have been asked to send the compliance order in triplicate to each contempt petition to the office of the government pleader of Madras High court with a copy marked to government and public Court Case Monitoring System (CCMS), an IT application platform which monitors cases pending against the concerned department or officials.

The move by state government also comes in the wake of Chief Justice S K Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan ordering that the contempt petitions in which the judges demitted offices be placed before it every Friday at 2.15PM before one of the judges.

The judges were hearing a petition filed by K K Ramesh, managing trustee, Tamil Nadu Centre for Public Interest Litigation, who wanted the contemnos to be punished so that they get fear and respect on courts.

It is also learnt that of pending contempt cases in Madras High court, 100 cases pertain to Central government. Of these only six cases are complied and the division bench of Chief Justice Kaul and R Mahadevan have sought a memo to be filed and matter to be posted before Justice R Mahadevan. 

Factfile:

Total Pending contempt petitions against TN Govt in single Bench: 1,447 (Approx)

Pending Contempt petitions before division bench: 179 cases

Pending contempt cases where in judges demitted offices: 1,247 

Pending contempt cases against Union government in Madras High court: 100 cases

(As per Madras High Court statistics) 

writingonblog uncensored: TN’s first model skill development training centre...

writingonblog uncensored: TN’s first model skill development training centre...: Chennai: In a bid to nurture the skills of unemployed youth and provide them with salaried jobs and self employment, the state’s first m...

TN’s first model skill development training centre opens

Chennai:

In a bid to nurture the skills of unemployed youth and provide them with salaried jobs and self employment, the state’s first model skill development training centre funded by Union Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship was inaugurated at SA Engineering College campus here on Saturday.

Termed as Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendra (PMKK), the Centre, which could skill around 2,000 youth in Thiruvallur district, was inaugurated by AIADMK’s Thiruvallur MP P Venugopal.

The Centre is being set up by SA Engineering College in association with UTL Technologies, a skill training provider, at the campus in an area of 9,000 square feet with a target to provide training and employment to 3,000 candidates in the next three years.

Talking to Express, chief executive officer of UTL Technologies J Srinivasa Raju said that his organisation will be setting up five more centres across the state by February next year. The centres are part of the Ministry’s initiative of setting up 600 aspirational state-of-the art model skill development centres to fast track skill development activities in the country.

“We will be setting up Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendra in Nagapatinam, Villupuram, Chidambaram, Chennai South and Vellore,” said Raju.

“The Centre would offer training to youth in five core sectors which include telecom, retail, banking and electronics,” he said.

The focus would be to skill unemployed youth, school dropouts, college dropouts, diploma holders and also engineers, he said. “There is no training fee and entire training is subsidised and funded by Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship,” he added.

Interestingly, Raju is planning to woo the youth through skill melas and said the youngsters would be selected based on eligibility criteria being fixed by the centre.

P Venkatesh Raja, director of S A Engineering College, said that the Centre would transform the institution into a quality centre enhancing the students’ skill and knowledge.

writingonblog uncensored: Govt wants invisible workforce to be visible; send...

writingonblog uncensored: Govt wants invisible workforce to be visible; send...: Chennai: Now the wages of all workers both in organised and unorganised sector will be paid through their bank accounts, according to Un...

Govt wants invisible workforce to be visible; sends in circular to states to ensure unorganised workers' wages paid through bank accounts

Chennai:

Now the wages of all workers both in organised and unorganised sector will be paid through their bank accounts, according to Union Ministry of Labour and Employment circular.

In a bid to ensure timely payment of workers’ wages following the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currencies, the Labour secretary M Sathiyavathy has asked the chief secretaries of all state governments and Union territories to organise camps to facilitate those workers who have not yet been able to open their bank accounts.

The location of these camps and other relevant modalities may be decided at the district level by committee comprising collector cum district magistrate and lead district manager of the bank, the labour officers of the Centre as well as the state government.

The committee has been asked to chalk out a programme on Saturday so that lead district manager can communicate to the banks the location of the camps. 

Meanwhile, Chief Labour Commissioner A K Nayak have also asked the deputy chief labour commissioners to take up the issue with the employers to get bank accounts opened in respect of each contract or casual worker or employee.

The Chief Labour Commissioner has asked the deputy chief labour commissioners to submit a report to the ministry before December 2, 2016 giving details about number of bank accounts opened because of their efforts.

“This has to be accorded top priority as payment has to be made by end of this month or by first week of following month,” the circular which was issued on Friday said.

Similarly, Employee’s Provident Fund Organisation has asked its officials to contact all establishments to ascertain how many workers receive salary in cash and facilitate opening of bank accounts. It is learnt that EPFO is the largest social security organisation serving five crore workers in India.

Interestingly, activists are guarded on their reaction to the move by the Union government. Additional secretary of All India Nirman Mazdoor Panchayat Sangh Geetha Ramakrishnan while welcoming the move said this would make visible the invisible workforce of India. “However, it should be seen how genuine the move is. On one hand the entire construction sector has been hit due to demonetisation with migrant workers losing their jobs and agriculture labour struggling to get wages. It is difficult to assess whom all it will benefit,” she added. 

writingonblog uncensored: Rs 100 crisis denies senior citizens their pension...

writingonblog uncensored: Rs 100 crisis denies senior citizens their pension...: Chennai: A majority of senior citizens  across certain pockets of the  state have been hit by  demonetisation as the post  offices ar...

Rs 100 crisis denies senior citizens their pension

Chennai:

A majority of senior citizens across certain pockets of the state have been hit by demonetisation as the post offices are finding it difficult to disburse the pensions following the crisis of Rs 100 denomination currency.

The pensions of the senior citizens are routed through post office after the Tahsildar clears the cheques. Once Post Office gets the cheques, they will disburse the old age pensions through money order.

Chief Post Master General Tamil Nadu circle Charles Lobo told Express that the state has moved some of the old age pension to bank accounts. “In certain districts, they have not transferred it to account holders. I will look into the issue and get it sorted by Tuesday,” he added.

Usually, the Old Age Pension is disbursed between 5th and 10th. After the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000, the pension for senior citizens got delayed, a postal employee told Express.

“Now the post office are facing a crisis of denomination of Rs 100 to disburse the pension,” said the postal department official.

Currently, we have denomination of Rs 2,000 and it wil be difficult to ask for change from the senior citizens as such there is delay in disbursal, the employee said. 

Interestingly, postal banking transactions are hit badly. Many post offices which are dependent on banks for money are hardly getting any. “We did not get any cash from Indian Overseas bank for the last couple of days and were managing from our head office who are getting the money from State bank of India,” said a India Post official.

“Now we are seeking rs six lakh from them as our head office has asked us to put forth our request to the bank again,” he said.

Kamarajar Port set to implement RFID system

Chennai:
In a bid to track every movement of men and material across the port and prevent revenue leakage and malfunction at the gate, Kamarajar Port is set to implement Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) system at the port premises.

The trial run of the Rs 11.82 crore RFID system has commenced from November 15 by the contractor CMS Computer Limited, who was awarded the contract to install, integrate, commission and maint RFID.

Currently, the integration of payment gateway and the display system at the port entry gates are in progress and Kamarajar Port has asked the port users, agents, contractors and other users to take note of the proposed system and avail it within next 10 to 15 days.

The RFID passes will now be issued through online web based request system, a port spokesman said.

The proposed system, being taken under the Ease of doing Business initiative under Ministry of Shipping,  will be an integrated intelligent system comprising of RFID based pass to men and material, automated entry and exit of vehicles with boom barriers and flap barriers, automatic vehicle identification with RFID tags and number plate capturing system.​

writingonblog uncensored: RBI airlifts cash for first time to Chennai

writingonblog uncensored: RBI airlifts cash for first time to Chennai: Chennai: As banks in Chennai were  struggling with shortage of  cash, the Reserve Bank of  India for the first time  after demonetisa...

RBI airlifts cash for first time to Chennai

Chennai:

As banks in Chennai were struggling with shortage of cash, the Reserve Bank of India for the first time after demonetisation airlifted nearly 40 tonnes of cash to Chennai.

Airport sources said that the cash arrived in a container from where it was loaded in two trucks and sent in to Reserve Bank vault.

Usually, the cash is being transferred through railway wagons. This is the first time it is being airlifted, said sources.

Sources indicated that it could be the Rs 500 denomination currencies. Currently, it is only State Bank of India which is disbursing Rs 500 notes in ATMs and its select branches.

Private banks and several public sector banks have yet to get the Rs 500 denomination currency. In several places, ATMs have been disbursing only Rs 2,000 currency which people find hard to get change for it.

Several ATMs of private banks have been shut due to lack of cash. Sources said pumping in of Rs 500 currencies could take away the pressure in giving change to people, who have Rs 2,000. “Currently, there is a crisis of Rs 100 and with the availability of Rs 500 denomination, the Rs 2,000 note could be exchanged,” sources added. 

writingonblog uncensored: TN Govt employees demand salaries in cash

writingonblog uncensored: TN Govt employees demand salaries in cash: Chennai: As Reserve Bank of India has imposed a limitation on withdrawal of cash, the state and central government employees are demanding...

TN Govt employees demand salaries in cash

Chennai:
As Reserve Bank of India has imposed a limitation on withdrawal of cash, the state and central government employees are demanding their salaries to be paid in cash and not credited in banks.

General secretary of Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers M Duraipandian said that his Union along with Tamil Nadu Government Employees Association will be raising their demands during the Lunch hour protest.

It is learnt that CPI (M) politburo member Brinda Karat will also be taking part in the protest.

Duraipandian justifying the stance of demanding salary by cash said that the withdrawal limit is not enough as the employee has to pay house rent, school fees and various other personal obligations as well as fulfilling their daily needs.

“The cash would prove beneficial or else the government employees will be forced to stand in queue during the office hours to withdraw their savings”, he said.

Duraipandian said that Central government employees have also written a letter to Economic Affairs Secretary Shaktikanta das while the Tamilselvi, the president of Tamil Nadu Government employees Association has written a letter to the state government putting forth their demand.

Meanwhile, Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI) is also launching a protest on Friday evening to protest against demonetisation.

Highlighting the plight of overworked bank employees, joint secretary of BEFI M Shanmugham said that Rs 500 currencies could limit the currency crisis by about 86 per cent and stressed the need to print more Rs 500 currencies.

“The Rs 500 currencies to be circulated in the state is not enough. It would take about five to seven months to return to normalcy,” said Shanmugham,, who questioned the rolling out of Rs 2,000 currency while scrapping Rs 500 and rs 1,000 which has affected the common man badly.