Unicaus NEWS
The House witnessed a heated debate between the Treasury Bench and the Opposition over protests by a section of teachers and government employees, and on the provisions of the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) scheme introduced by the Union Government.
Speaking on the Motion of Thanks to the Governor’s address, AIADMK MLA P. Thangamani listed some of the poll promises made by the DMK in the run-up to the 2021 Assembly polls and said there was no announcement regarding several pending assurances.
Minister for Public Works E.V. Velu contended the DMK had fulfilled 90% of its poll promises after coming to power and had implemented several other initiatives that were not part of its 2021 election manifesto.
Mr. Thangamani said the DMK government should hold talks with protesting teachers and government employees and fulfil their demands.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin intervened and said government employees had the right to place their demands and to protest. However, with the intention that even such rightful protests should come to an end and not continue indefinitely, Ministers had invited them for talks. “We did not invoke TESMA or ESMA. We did not arrest them overnight. All this happened during the AIADMK regime [2001-06]. We will not remain mere spectators to the protests of government employees,” Mr. Stalin said.
Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami said instead of fulfilling its poll promise of restoring the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), the DMK government had modified the Unified Pension Scheme of the Centre and introduced the Tamil Nadu Assured Pension Scheme (TAPS). He said the grievance of government employees regarding the restoration of OPS remained unaddressed.
Mr. Stalin said after the announcement of TAPS, members of government employees’ associations met him in his chamber and thanked him. However, Mr. Palaniswami said only a few associations had welcomed it.
Speaking further, the Chief Minister said: “There are still a few issues. I am not saying we have fulfilled everything. There is still one or two per cent remaining. We are in talks with noon-meal and Anganwadi workers and part-time teachers. Their demands too will certainly be fulfilled. The next government will also be a Dravidian model government.”
Resolution against VB-G RAM G
Mr. Thangamani said under VB-G RAM G, the number of guaranteed working days had been increased from 100 to 125.
However, Minister for Rural Development I. Periyasamy objected to removing Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and replacing it with VB-G RAM G.
He also alleged the Union government had disproportionately changed the fund-sharing pattern between the Centre and the States to 60:40 under VB-G RAM G, against the 100% Central funding under MGNREGS.
Mr. Palaniswami said his party had opposed the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the scheme, but the DMK had failed to fulfil its poll promise of increasing the guaranteed working days under MGNREGA from 100 to 150.
Published – January 23, 2026 12:40 am IST
