Karunanidhi announces benefits for TNEB staff

Chennai, July 3: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi has announced several welfare measures for the employees of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) on the occasion of its golden jubilee celebration.

Addressing a function at the Nehru stadium here last night, he said an additional increment by way of incentive would be given to the 72,723 employees, incurring an expenditure of Rs 29.87 crore annually.

A token amount of Rs 1,000 would be paid to all the employees, 46,035 pensioners and 27,055 family pensioners, involving an amount of Rs 14.58 crore. About 21,400 contract workers and 5,646 part-time workers would get Rs 500 each entailing an expediture of Rs 1.36 crore to the Board.

The demand for hike in pension would be taken up at the time of the formation of the Pay Commission, he said and called up on the TNEB staffs to ensure uninterrupted and quality power supply.

The Chief Minister also laid the foundation stone for 2,500 mw capacity power projects and dedicated 10,000 distribution transformers.

The state government had decided to install transformers at a cost of Rs 160 crore, he added.

Electricity Minister Arcot N Veerasamy, who presided over the function, said regularisation of the services of about 21,400 contract workers in distribution circles would be implemented in a phased manner.

Mr Veerasamy laid the foundation stone for the golden jubilee block, while Local Administration minister M K Stalin released a souvenir.

About two dozen employees and several former chairmen of the TNEB were honoured on the occasion.

UNI