TN This Week: Sanitation, TASMAC, Swiggy Delivery Workers Hold Protests, Demand Worker Status

The Tamil Nadu police have so far registered 11 cases and arrested three persons for spreading rumours regarding the safety of migrant workers in Tamil Nadu. The officers from Bihar who visited Tamil Nadu filed a report stating there were no attacks on migrant workers as was claimed. Read more

Tamil Nadu governor R N Ravi returned the Prohibition of Online Gambling and Regulation of Online Games Bill on Wednesday questioning the state's legislative competence to adopt the bill. It received flak from the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and alliance parties. Read more

The audio announcements in MGR Chennai Central railway station were restored on Monday after they were suspended on February 26. The association for differently-abled people had opposed the “silent railway station” move.

A conference of various micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) associations was held on March 5 in Coimbatore demanding that the union and state governments safeguard the industries from stagnation and loss. Read more

BJP CADRE SHIFT TO AIADMK

A total of 13 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders of varying seniority defected to the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) this week. Among them was the BJP's state IT wing chief CRT Nirmal Kumar. He accused BJP Tamil Nadu chief K Annamalai of having a secret understanding with a DMK minister.

BJP state functionary R Kalyanaraman was sentenced to 163 days in prison for making derogatory remarks against Islam and Christianity. He was booked by the Chennai police’s cybercrime wing in 2021.

Meanwhile, AIADMK's interim general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Thursday held discussions with district secretaries for the election to the post of general secretary of the party and strengthen the booth committees for the forthcoming general elections.

PROTESTS & MOVEMENTS

TOWARDS APRIL 5 MARCH

Rallies are being held across Tamil Nadu preparing the ground for the Mazdoor-Kisan Sangharsh Rally called by CITU, AIKS, and AIAWU for April 5. Rallies were held in Ariyalur, Kallakurichi, Tiruvallur, Vellore, and Villupuram among others this week.

Rally in Kallakurichi towards the April 5 March to Parliament. Image credit: P Shanmugam

 

TRANSPORT CORP WORKERS

The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporations' (TNSTC) workers' federation has urged the DMK government to abandon its plan to involve private buses on a contract basis in Chennai. A two-wheeler rally was held in Virudhunagar, Nagercoil and other districts condemning the state government’s move.

Bike rally against privatisation in TNSTC. Image credit: CITU, Tamil Nadu.

TASMAC WORKERS

A demonstration was held in front of the Labor Commissioner's office in Chennai by the TASMAC employees' union, insisting that state-run retail alcohol corporation employees should be made permanent as per the Conferment of Permanent Status of Workmen Act, 1981.

TASMAC workers demand worker status. Image courtesy: CITU, Tamil Nadu

 

MILK TRADERS

The Tamil Nadu Milk Producers Welfare Association and the Tamil Nadu Milk Producers Association announced a milk strike, demanding an incentive of Rs 7 per litre on the purchase price of milk in Madurai.

SWIGGY DELIVERY WORKERS

A demonstration was held on Thursday near Rajaratnam Stadium, Chennai to protect the livelihood of Swiggy employees and get legal benefits.

SUGARCANE FARMERS

With the protest by sugarcane farmers against irregularities committed by the Thiru Aarooran Sugar Mills administration entering the 100th day on Thursday, the agitating farmers held a rally in Thanjavur demanding the settlement of dues.

SUGARCANE FARMERS

CHENNAI CONSERVANCY WORKERS

The Chennai Corporation Red Flag Union of conservancy workers, affiliated with the CITU, held a protest on Friday urging the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) to recognise them as workers. They are presently working in contractual positions. The sanitary workers also protested against the privatisation of solid waste management.

THANTHAI PERIYAR DRAVIDAR KAZHAGAM

A group of a cadre of Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (TDPK) staged a protest in front of the Shastri Bhavan, Chennai, on Tuesday condemning the posting of persons from other states and those belonging to forward communities in significant numbers in central government offices in Tamil Nadu.