Tamil Nadu - Madurai   

Concern over auto permit issuance

Staff Reporter

Despite model code of conduct coming into effect

MADURAI: The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) has charged that attempts were being made to issue permits to owner-drivers of autorickshaws in Madurai, under a subsidy scheme of the State Government, despite imposition of the model code of conduct in view of the ensuing Assembly elections.

Expressing "an element of suspicion over the issuance of permits" the district unit of the CITU charged that efforts were on to `discretely' finalise a list of beneficiaries to award the subsidy and permits.

According to the district general secretary, R. Deivaraj, a subsidy of 25 per cent on loan scheme upto a maximum of Rs.25,000 was provided to the owner-drivers to purchase autorickshaws. The Government brought the scheme into force as the autorickshaw sector possessed scope for self-employment.

EC guidelines

"Surprisingly, some officials paved way for issuing the permits after finalising the list of beneficiaries. However this should not be done because no scheme or work could be taken up for execution or implementation from the time of announcement of elections till the entire poll process is completed as per guidelines laid down by the Election Commission of India."

Mr. Deivaraj has appealed to the Collector to intervene and ascertain the facts, as the officials have selected the beneficiaries to provide 160 permits. The Collector should use his good office and nullify the selection process and pave way for identifying genuine beneficiaries in a proper manner after the election, he added.

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