Bill to ensure paid holidays tabled in House

According to the statement of objects and reasons as mentioned in the Bill, there was no specific provision in the Tamil Nadu Industrial Establishments (National and Festival Holidays) Act, 1958, to empower the government to declare a paid holiday to the employees of the industrial establishments on any emergency or special circumstances prevailing in the state, which mandates this amendment. This also leaves the government with no option of taking any action against the institution on non-compliance. 

“By convention, the industrial establishments are requested to grant paid holiday to their employees on any particular day as declared by the government. It is brought to the notice of the government that certain employers have not declared it despite the state’s order. It is considered necessary to amend the said Act to empower the state to declare paid holiday to the employees of the industrial establishments on any emergency or special circumstances prevailing in the state,” the Minister stated.

‘Credit’ war for Pudukkottai Medical College 

As the arrest of three legislators during the inauguration of Pudukkottai Medical College was raised in the house, Alangulam MLA Siva V Meyyanathan, who was among the arrested trio, staked claims to the Medical College as foundation to the institution was laid by former chief minister and the DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi. 

DMK working president MK Stalin too reiterated that. However, Health Minister C Vijaya Baskar informed the House that it was wrong on the part of DMK to take credit as they neither moved a stone nor allocated any fund except for a hurried announcement for setting up of five medical colleges during the fag end of their regime in February 2011, in view of the Assembly elections. 

As for the arrest, the Minister said that the government had information that the MLAs were planning a black-flag protest at the inaugural function and were held under preventive detention.