Page 84 - Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu CM announces 4% DA hike as New Year gift for govt employees

The Dearness Allowance (DA) for government employees including teachers, pensioners and family pensioners would be increased from 34 per cent to 38 per cent with immediate effect, Chief Minister M K Stalin said here on Sunday. The increase, effective January 1, 2023, would benefit about 16 lakh staff and the decision was taken after considering the representation of government employees, he said. Though the move would entail an additional annual expenditure of Rs 2,359 crore, the government has taken up the financial burden considering the welfare of state employees. On the protest of government teachers seeking 'equal pay for equal work', he said a committee of three top officials, headed by Finance Secretary-Expenditure, would be set up. The government has decided to take steps based on the recommendations of the panel, he said. Terming the DA hike a 'New Year gift,' he appealed to the staff to cooperate with the government in its efforts aimed at people's welfare and prosperity.

Ranji Trophy: Bad light costs TN yet again; Sai rues conceding late runs

Ravi Sai Kishore, who was one of the chief architects of what could have been a great win for Tamil Nadu, said that they missed out on a win by giving away too many runs in the third innings

TN launches Isro developed transponders on 4,000 boats to help fisherman

Marking the launch of fixing ISRO-developed upgraded transponders on over 4,000 mechanised boats to help fishermen engaged in deep sea fishing, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday gave away the devices to owners of fishing vessels. At the Secretariat, 10 owners received the devices from Stalin under the Blue Revolution Scheme, which envisages fixing transponders on 4,997 mechanised boats in Tamil Nadu at an estimated cost of Rs 18.01 crore. The owners belong to Chennai, Nagapattinam, Thoothukudi and Kanyakumari districts. The device provides two-way communication and it is to help fishermen send and receive information. It would enable authorities to spot with precision the location of a boat in the deep sea, its route and aid them to take appropriate measures for rescue efforts. During a cyclone, storm or heavy rains, messages could be transmitted from boats in deep sea to Fisheries department's Central control room and the boat owner as well. Messages could be received

Tamil Nadu starts packages for green tech, rural impact, women-led startups

50% hike in grants for special-category startups; MentorTN portal to help budding startups reach out to established entrepreneurs, professionals and subject matter experts

BJP can't win a single seat on its own in Tamil Nadu, asserts CM Stalin

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M K Stalin has accused the BJP-led Union Government of trying to usurp the rights guaranteed to state governments and also assume the subjects in the Concurrent list to be their own. Alleging that many of the Union Government's actions are in contrast to the Constitutional values, Stalin accused the saffron party of making attempts to run a "parallel government" through the Governors, especially in the states that are ruled by non-BJP dispensations. "The behaviour and approach of 'appointed' Governors trying to control 'duly elected' governments amounts to mockery of our constitution," Stalin told PTI in an exclusive interview. Stalin said it is not just the DMK but many parties including the CPI-M in Kerala, BRS in Telangana, TMC in West Bengal, and AAP in Delhi are raising their voices against this trend. The DMK's chiefs comments came against the backdrop of friction between Governors and governments in some non-BJP ruled ...

Tamil Nadu CM Stalin to visit Delhi to condole demise of PM Modi's mother

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will visit the national capital on Friday to offer condolences to Prime Minister Narendra Modi who lost his mother Heeraben earlier in the day

Tamil Nadu CM Stalin inaugurates second unit of TNPL hardwood pulp mill

The project will create direct and indirect employment opportunities for 500 persons, the company said

Free trade with Australia kicks off; Tamil Nadu sees export gains

India gets preferential access to all products it exports to Australia

Tamil Nadu retains investment destination tag with Rs 1 trillion in 2022

Often billed as a favoured investment destination, Tamil Nadu managed to garner over Rs 1 lakh crore investments committed by various companies in 2022, a year that brought both challenges and opportunities to the southern state.It faced the challenge arising out of various issues like Russia-Ukraine conflict or the suspension of the production at US automaker Ford near here among others. This year, Tamil Nadu signed memoranda of understanding with over 60 companies which committed investments of Rs 1.25 lakh crore that would generate around 75,000 new jobs. Chief Minister M K Stalin has been reaching out to investors at various platforms to make Tamil Nadu become the most attractive investment destination in South Asia and endeavour towards 'Made in Tamil Nadu' products reaching all parts of the world. The government also maintained Tamil Nadu was the only state in the country to post a 'positive growth' during Covid-19 enforced lockdown period while other states reported negativ

Expecting good performance of BJP in Tamil Nadu in Lok Sabha polls: Nadda

BJP president JP Nadda who commenced his election campaign for 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu on December 27 has said that he expects the BJP and NDA to do extremely well

Mother-child duo, returning from China, test Covid positive in Tamil Nadu

A woman and her six-year-old daughter, who returned from China via Colombo, tested positive for COVID-19 at the Madurai airport in Tamil Nadu, a senior health official said on Wednesday. The woman, hailing from Virudhunagar near Madurai, and her daughter were subjected to RT-PCR test at the airport when they landed on Tuesday and the results turned positive for coronavirus, the official said. Both are under home isolation in Virudhunagar. Their samples would be sent to the state lab for whole genomic sequencing. On Tuesday, Tamil Nadu had reported 10 positive cases while the number of active cases remained at 51. The Tamil Nadu government had intensified the screening of all passengers who arrived at the four airports in the state immediately after the sudden surge in coronavirus cases in China and other countries. On Tuesday, state Health Minister Ma Subramanian, while inspecting a COVID-19 mock drill at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, here had said that the govern

Ensure enough opportunities for Tamils in govt offices, PSUs: TN CM Stalin

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has once again taken up with the Centre, his earlier demand for priority in appointment of native Tamils in Central Government Offices and its Public Sector Undertakings in the state. Writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Stalin said a memorandum had been submitted to the former last year, following that up with a letter flagging the matter to ensure adequate opportunities to the native Tamils. "I am sure, you would agree that adequate opportunities to people from all regions alone can ensure better service delivery besides regional representation and fulfill their aspiration to join in union government and Central Public Sector Undertakings at various levels. As you are aware, citizen centric administration, the sine qua non of good governance, requires free interface with public and only persons with familiarity in local language and culture fulfill it," he said. Further, Tamil Nadu has more human resources with comparatively higher knowledg

Tamil Nadu Congress on path of rejuvenation, gears up for 2024 LS polls

The state Congress party, which is slowly showing signs of a revival, will be highlighting the 'anti-people' activities of the Central government

It's safe to wear masks in crowded places: Tamil Nadu Health Minister

Tamil Nadu never announced any relaxation in following COVID-19 appropriate behaviour and it is safe to wear a mask in crowded places, state Health Minister Ma Subramanian said on Sunday amid a surge in coronavirus infections overseas. The minister said health department officials have been instructed to mandatorily take RT-PCR tests of all the passengers at the international airport who arrive from countries where the spread of infection has been high. Beginning Saturday, Tamil Nadu has resumed random testing of international passengers arriving at the airports in the state. "Wearing a mask, hand hygiene are already covered under COVID-19 protocols. We have not announced any kind of relaxation. All the COVID-19 standard operating procedures still remain. It is safe to wear a mask in crowded places like malls, air conditioned environments," he told reporters here. "Instead of discussing whether it is mandatory or not, it is safe to wear a mask to protect ourselves," he said. The .

IMD predicts rainfall, thunderstorms in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Karaikal

Moderate rain with thunderstorms and lightning is likely to occur at isolated places over Tiruvallur, Chennai, Kanchipuram, and Thiruvarur districts of Tamil Nadu and Karaikal during next 1 to 3 hours

Tamil Nadu farmers demand govt to distribute sugarcane through ration shops

Sugarcane farmers of Tamil Nadu have demanded that the state government procure sugarcane directly from the farmers and distribute it through ration shops during Pongal

Amid rising Covid concerns, Tamil Nadu readies with oxygen, hospital beds

The Tamil Nadu health department is readying itself for any surge in Covid-19 cases after the new variant, Omicron BF7 was detected in the country

ED attaches Rs 55 cr worth of 'benami' land of DMK MP A Raja in Coimbatore

The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday said it has attached a "benami" asset worth Rs 55 crore of DMK MP A Raja -- 45 acres of land in Coimbatore district in Tamil Nadu -- under the anti-money laundering law. The federal agency said in a statement the land was purchased by a company allegedly linked to Raja, in lieu of granting environmental clearance to a Gurugram-based real estate company by the leader during his stint as the Union minister for environment and forests between 2004-07. The land is held in the name of a "benami" company of Raja, the Enforcement Directorate said. Benami means 'no name' or 'without name' and such properties are those in which the real beneficiary is not the one in whose name the property has been purchased. The 59-year-old Raja is currently a DMK MP from the Nilgiris Lok Sabha seat. The politician has been earlier in the cross hairs of the ED when his role was investigated and a charge sheet was filed against him by the agency in connection with it

TN govt announces Rs 1,000 as Pongal gift for ration card holders

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has directed providing Rs 1,000 to ration card holders in the state on the occasion of Pongal harvest festival next month, the state government said on Thursday. All 'Rice' ration card holders will be eligible for the largesse which will also apply to the families residing in Sri Lankan Rehabilitation Camps, an official release here said. One kg each rice and sugar will also be provided to the beneficiaries. As many as 2.19 crore ration card holders will benefit from the move that will entail an expenditure of Rs 2,356.67 crore, the release added. Stalin will launch the Pongal Gift scheme here on January 2. The festival will be celebrated on January 15.

Covid-19: TN health deptt issues alert against new Omicron variant BF.7

The TN health department has issued an alert to all the District Medical Officers against the reported Omicron variant BF.7 and the increase in the number of Covid positive cases in several countries