New pay scale for noon-meal workers: Karunanidhi

Chennai, Aug 15: As an Independence Day gift, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Friday, Aug 15 announced Special Time scale of pay for Noon-meal and Anganwadi workers and new pay scales to the State Government employees as announced by the Centre based on Sixth Pay Commission recommendations.

Addressing the state after unfurling the national flag at the ramparts of Fort St George here on the occasion of 622nd Independence day, Mr Karunanidhi announced a special time scale of pay to those working in the noon-meal, Anganwadi and child-welfare centres.

The special scale of pay would benefit 2.20 lakh employees, who were presently on a consolidated pay and had been demanding pay scale salary and regularisation of service for more than two decades.

''This will benefit those people who are engaged in a dedicated service in shaping the children, who are the future of India,'' Mr Karunanidhi said adding the new pay scale would cost the Government an annual expenditure of Rs 200 crore.

Mr Karunanidhi also announced them a special pension scheme and seniority linked increments to those, who had put in 10 years and more in service.

For those, who joined recently and those working for more than 25 years were drawing the same salary, the Government has decided to seniority-based increments, he said.

The new pay scale, pension scheme and increments would come into effect from September 15, the birth anniversary of Late Chief Minister C N Annadurai, he added.

The Chief Minsiter also announced that the State Government would implement and hike the salary of 10 lakh State Government employees as decided by the Centre, based on the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission. The government would soon issue orders to this effect, he added.

Detailing the welfare measures and developmental schemes, Mr Karunanidhi, who became the Chief Minister for the fifth time and unfurled the tri-colour for a record 12th time, said he would continue to tirelessly work for the welfare of the people of the State and wished them a prosperous living. He said after the DMK came to power in May 2006, it had waived farm loans to the tune of Rs 7,000 crore and brought down the rate of interest on farm loans from nine to four per cent.

Under the Social Protection scheme, the Government has given assistance to the tune of Rs 160 crore to 2.84 lakh farmers. Thanks to the incentives offered to the farm sector, the agriculture growth during 2007-08 has reached 6.5 per cent against the national growth of 2.6 per cent. The food production has reached 100 lakh tonnes, he added.

After May, 2006, the State Government has attracted a total investment of Rs 25,683 crore for the setting up of 19 new industries in the State and providing employment to 1.74 lakh people. While six industries have already been established, works were under progress for the setting up of ten industries.

He said the Software export, which stood at Rs 14,400 crore during 2005-06, has risen to Rs 28,295 crore during 2007-08.

Earlier, Mr Karuandidhi was received by Chief Secretary L K Tripathy, who introduced him to the heads of services, stationed in Chennai. After inspecting the guard of honour, Mr Karunanidhi unfurled the national flag.

A report from Madurai said amid unprecedented security cover, the 62nd Independence Day was celebrated with pomp and gaiety in southern Districts of Tamil Nadu today. In Madurai, Tirunelveli and Ramanathapuram, the respective District Collectors unfurled the Tricolour and inspected the march past presented by various wings of the police.

Freedom fighters were also honoured and welfare assistace distributed in various districts.

Police sources said so far no untoward incidents were reported in any part of south Tamil Nadu.

A Tiruchirapalli Report said the I-Day was celebrated with District Collector T Soundiah hoisting the Tricolour and inspecting the ceremonial march past.

Special poojas and community lunches were also organised in various temples.

Reports were received from Tuticorin and Vellore also on the 62nd Indpendence Day celebrations.

UNI