The Tamil Nadu government has announced a 25 per cent salary increase for employees working at TASMAC liquor outlets, saying the move is intended to curb corruption and prevent customers from being overcharged for liquor purchases.
The pay revision is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to reform the functioning of state-run liquor shops.
According to the government, the salary hike is expected to discourage the alleged practice of collecting an additional Rs 10 per bottle from customers, a complaint that has frequently been raised against TASMAC outlets.
Explaining the decision, Minister Vignesh said the revised salaries would reduce the need for employees to charge customers above the prescribed retail price.
The government believes that improved wages will strengthen accountability and help reduce corruption across the TASMAC network.
Vignesh also noted that TASMAC employees had not received a salary revision in the past 20 years.
The revised pay structure is expected to enhance employee welfare while addressing long-standing concerns over overcharging. The government is yet to announce detailed implementation guidelines.
Government Earlier Ordered Closure of 717 TASMAC Outlets
The salary hike comes months after Chief Minister Joseph Vijay directed the closure of 717 TASMAC liquor outlets located within 500 metres of places of worship, educational institutions and bus stands.
According to official figures, Tamil Nadu has 4,765 TASMAC outlets, of which 717 were identified for closure. These include 276 shops near places of worship, 186 located close to educational institutions and 255 near bus stands.
The government described the closures as a social reform initiative aimed at reducing easy access to alcohol in sensitive public areas.
The move received support from leaders across the political spectrum. Actor-politician Kamal Haasan welcomed the decision, urging the government to continue shutting down more liquor outlets and strengthen its role in regulating alcohol sales.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore also backed the measure, calling it a response to a long-standing public demand and saying it would improve the safety of women, students and the general public.
The salary revision is among a series of policy initiatives introduced by the TVK government since assuming office, alongside measures including free electricity for domestic consumers, the creation of a dedicated women’s safety force and the establishment of anti-drug units in every district.
