Latest news with #AmmaMakkalMunnetraKazhagam
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Chennai Corporation ropes in farm-hands for cleaning the city as workers continue protest
Chennai Corporation has roped in additional workers for launching a mass cleaning drive in Royapuram and Thiru Vi Ka Nagar zones owing to the protest by workers. Many farm hands from areas such as Vandavasi have started cleaning the streets. 'We have deployed 1000 additional workers to strengthen the mass cleaning drive. More workers will start cleaning the streets shortly,' said an official. GCC has started a mass cleaning drive in various streets where garbage has accumulated owing to the protests. Chennai Corporation officials said more workers from the city will be deployed to clean the streets. However, the protesting workers alleged that the private contractor of the GCC has roped in farm hands from areas such as Vandavasi to clean the streets as the protest is under way. 'Over 100 farm hands from Vandavasi have started visiting the city to clean the streets every day in the morning, and returning home after 2 p.m. They get Rs.700 as wages per day. They used to get Rs.250 per day in their village for agricultural labour,' said the worker. Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam founder visited the workers and expressed solidarity with them. Chennai Corporation in a press release on Tuesday urged the workers to resume work, pointing to the benefits and job security under the new private company. The workers who join the company will be eligible for PF, ESI, bonus, festival advance, financial assistance for marriage and education and insurance cover. The workers will get a financial assistance of Rs. 20000 for marriage, education advance of Rs.12000 and other financial assistance. The workers are eligible for 12 days casual leave, 12 days earned leave, double wages for national holidays. The workers will get safety gear and assistance under the welfare board. GCC will ensure 100% job security and welfare for all the workers who join the private company, the release said.
Hans India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
TTV Dhinakaran slams TN govt for 'poor' handling of sanitation workers protest
Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran has slammed the Tamil Nadu government for its "poor" handling of the sanitation workers' strike, which has entered its 10th day. He condemned what he termed "threats in the guise of negotiations" aimed at ending the strike. The sanitation workers have been protesting in front of the Ripon Building, demanding regularisation of their jobs and opposing the outsourcing of Chennai Corporation's conservancy work to private contractors. Workers allege that the DMK government, instead of meeting their demands for protecting public health and sanitation, is attempting to dismantle their "democratic struggle" through intimidation. Dhinakaran recalled that sanitation workers had risked their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic and other disasters like floods and cyclones, yet their contributions were being disregarded. He criticised the corporation's approach of negotiating with workers on one hand while accelerating recruitment through private companies on the other, saying it has caused deep resentment among workers. He urged the corporation and the state government to hold talks with the protesting workers' representatives and meet their legitimate demands immediately. Meanwhile, the strike by National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) sanitation workers in key zones - Royapuram, Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, and parts of Ambattur - has continued for tendays, raising fears of a public health crisis. Although 25 per cent of the striking workers have resumed duty and 2,039 temporary staff have been deployed, garbage has been piling up across these areas. A late-night meeting on Saturday between HR & CE Minister P.K. Sekarbabu, Mayor Priya, GCC Commissioner J. Kumaragurubaran, and the striking workers ended without a breakthrough. The minister in a statement said that the government would announce a solution after further discussions. About 3,000 NULM workers are opposing privatisation in zones 5, 6, and 7. GCC officials said 750 workers have joined private contractor Chennai Enviro Solutions, which began operations in zones 5 and 6 on July 19 by appointing temporary staff from self-help groups. However, residents say the garbage situation has not improved. Overflowing dustbins, rotting waste on streets, and stray animals dragging garbage onto the roads have become common complaints. "For over a week, the waste has piled up inside our colony, and some residents have started dumping it on the streets," said of Nammalwarpet. A Perambur resident, Selvakumari. P noted that some wards have no replacements for absent workers, leaving garbage collection completely halted. Despite residents' social media appeals, the problem remains unresolved. Joint Commissioner (Health) V.P. Jeyaseelan said privatisation had improved service quality and safety in other zones, and the same model was extended to zones 5 and 6. The strike began on August 1 in protest against this move.
The Hindu
19-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
AIADMK's functionaries to meet in Chennai on June 24, 25
The AIADMK's district secretaries and district-wise point persons will hold deliberations in Chennai on June 24 and 25 as part of the party's preparations for the Assembly poll to be held next year. Party's general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami will chair the discussions. Meanwhile, in a separate statement, the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) founder T.T.V. Dhinakaran pulled up the DMK government for, what he called, its apathetic approach towards those who had recruited persons for extremist organisations. He referred to the arrest of two persons by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Coimbatore. He also criticised the government for the reported crash of ceiling of an office of the panchayat union office in Thiruvidaimaruthur, Thanjavur district. Separately, the ADMK Workers' Rights Retrieval Committee coordinator, O. Panneerselvam, demanded the payment of ₹ 25,000 per acre to mango-growing farmers, who were affected by mismatch in the demand-supply situation.
The Hindu
11-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
AMMK will forget its differences with AIADMK to put up a united fight to defeat DMK: Dhinakaran
Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam will forget its differences with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and put up a united fight to defeat the 'evil force,' Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam ,in the forthcoming Assembly election, said its founder T.T.V. Dhinakaran in Sattur on Sunday. Interacting with journalists, Mr. Dhinakaran said all political parties in the country spoke in a single voice in support of the Indian defence forces that fought against Pakistan. 'That was to ensure that India wins the war. Similarly, in the democratic war of election, all political parties would join hands sinking the differences between them with the single objective of defeating the DMK,' Mr. Dhinakaran said. To a question on opposition parties criticising the role of US in brokering peace between India and Pakistan, the former MP said it was a usual happening around the world for international leaders to bring peace among warring nations. 'Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi had tried to bring peace between Russia and Ukraine. US President Donald Trump could have tried to prevent the sufferings of people of India and Pakistan during war,' he added. Mr. Dhinakaran was highly critical about the DMK claiming that its governance had taken Tamil Nadu to the numero uno position. According to him, Tamil Nadu was the 'first among the States' where the (DMK) government had not fulfilled its poll promises; in terms of deterioration of law and order, and in increasing murders by mercenaries.
The Hindu
06-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Dhinakaran criticises DMK govt. for not fulfilling poll promises
Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran on Tuesday contended that the 'singular achievement' of the DMK government, which had completed four years in office, was to rake up issues, such as delimitation and Katchatheevu, with a view to deflect the 'dissatisfaction' of the public with the government's performance. In a statement, he listed some of the promises made by the ruling DMK during the 2021 Assembly poll that, according to him, had remained unfulfilled. Among these were the exemption from the National Entrance-cum-Eligibility Test, restoration of the Old Pension Scheme for government staff, and filling of vacancies in the government to tune of 3.5 lakh. In a post on his social media handle, Mr. Dhinakaran assailed the functioning of the Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation for having stopped the procurement of paddy from on-Cauvery delta districts in the State. He also criticised it for not having released ₹250 crore to the National Cooperative Consumers' Federation (NCCF) for paddy procurement, as it was farmers who had been eventually affected. He sought the intervention of the State government in this regard.
