MK announces Pongal Bonus

Chennai, Dec 28 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu Government today announced ''Pongal Bonus'' for its employees on the occasion of Pongal, the festival of harvest.

As announced in the Budget for the year 2006-07, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi granted 30 days pay as bonus for Group C and D government employees and teachers, calculated at Rs 2,500, an official release here said.

While a special ad hoc bonus of Rs 825 would be given for Group A and B employees and employees on consolidated pay and honorarium, pensioners would be given a gift of Rs 150.

Those employed in local bodies, teachers and staff in government aided schools, noon meal workers, village assistants and daily wage workers, who had worked for 240 days in a financial year, would also be eligible for bonus and special ad hoc bonus.

Though the recently reinstated road workers were not eligible for bonus, the Chief Minister, as a special case, ordered payment of an ex-gratia of Rs 825, the release added.

This would benefit 12.43 lakh employees and cost the exchequer Rs 250 crore, the release said.

The employees were paid Pongal bonus till the year 2000-01, when the DMK was in power, but denied the benefit after the AIADMK came to power. Following representations from the employees, Mr Karunanidhi now ordered payment of bonus from this year, it added.

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