Monday, July 18 2005 16:57 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: Announcing several sops to Government employees, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, today ( July 18, 2005) said the notification banning strikes by government staff, issued in July 2003, when the government employees went on an indefinite strike, would not be renewed after its expiry on July 23.

Jayalalithaa also announced a three per cent hike in dearness allowance to the Government staff. "I am announcing this far reaching measure in the interest of government employees and teachers. The government employees and teachers should reciprocate by always adhering to the path of understanding, discipline and good service to the public, resolving issues only by mutual discussions, totally abjuring practices, affecting the public," she said in a statement.

The opposition and the Government Employees Organisations had been demanding that the Tamil Nadu Essential Services Maintenance Act should be repealed. The Act gave the state powers to ban strikes and dismiss employees who went on strike.

In another sop, Jayalalithaa announced a three per cent hike in the dearness allowance to the government staff, teaching and non-teaching staff in government and government aided schools, college lecturers and pensioners from July one.

An ad hoc increase of Rs.20 per month for those, who were drawing a consolidated pay of Rs.150 and above and Rs.10 per month for those who had been drawing less than Rs.150 would be given from that date, she said.

The hike would cost the exchequer Rs.201.23 crore in a full financial year, benefiting 12.33 lakh government staff and 4.37 lakh pensioners, she said.

Jayalalithaa announced that the absence from duty by 1003 government employees, whose services were terminated for their participation in the 2003 strike but were reinstated in February 2004, would be treated "as on duty." This would motivate the government staff and teachers to perform better.

"I have announced this package in a spirit of goodwill with the specific intention of helping the government employees and teachers to do better in rendering service to the public. I have a goal to take Tamil Nadu to the topmost position in every sphere. I want the government employees and teachers to join me in realising this vision," Jayalalithaa said.