
Sivaganga custodial death victim's kin get Aavin job, Rs 5 lakh; parties offer support
Naveenkumar, who currently works in a private firm, has been appointed as senior factory assistant of Sivaganga District Co-operative Milk Producers Union Ltd (Aavin) in Karaikudi. A housing plot of three cents has also been allotted to the family.
Speaking to reporters, Minister Periakaruppan said on behalf of DMK, a sum of Rs 5 lakh has been given to the family. He added that the DMK and state government would not stop supporting the family with just these measures.
Responding to a query, the minister said, 'It has not been confirmed that Ajithkumar committed the theft as alleged. Hence, the black mark on his name, that he is an accused in the case, will be removed.'
Apart from him, AIADMK leader R B Udhayakumar, VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan, Puthiya Tamilagam president S Krishnasamy and TVK chief actor Vijay called on the family. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami spoke to the family over the phone and offered his condolences.
Palaniswami told the family that AIADMK would support them at all costs. He highlighted that the party had filed a petition in the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court seeking justice for Ajithkumar's death. 'AIADMK will not stop until every person responsible for the death is punished,' he said. Speaking during a joint protest organised by the AIADMK and the BJP at Thirupuvanam, BJP leader H Raja said the state government must grant Rs 50L solatium to the family.

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Business per employee (BPE) of PSBs, an indicator of operational efficiency and cost rationalisation, has been increasing steadily. Annual reports of banks show State Bank of India's BPE has increased to Rs 13.23 crore, Punjab National Bank to Rs 26.86 crore, and Bank of Baroda to Rs 32.53 crore in the year 2024-25. The change in the performance of the PSUs has been recognised by the stock market. They have now become wealth creators. There was a time in the not-so-distant past when the public sectors traded at a massive discount to the wider markets, having a low Price to Earnings ratio, just because of government ownership. It's exactly the opposite now, PSUs now trade at a premium to their private sector peers. What has led to this transformation in the performance of PSUs under the Modi Government? The government has given PSUs much more autonomy in their business and operational matters, and political interference has been eliminated. The appointments at the top management level are merit-based, and there is zero tolerance for corruption. The government's approach to disinvestment is not dogmatic either. The disinvestment philosophy has been replaced with value creation and maximisation. There are a few loss-making PSUs on the disinvestment radar of the Government, but the goals are strategic and not revenue alone. Indian citizens now realise that economic growth is never an automatic byproduct of enabling factors. Rather, it is a result of conscious actions of the government that takes vital decisions and then monitors and responds to challenges that emerge along the way. The performance of the public sector in the last 11 years shows the competence of the Modi Government in putting public resources to optimal use, and this fact must be applauded. Gopal Krishna Agarwal is the National Spokesperson of BJP. Views are personal. (Edited by Theres Sudeep)