Chennai, July 31:
Opposing the Tamil Nadu government’s proposed move to privatise liquor retail outlets, the Tamil Nadu Tasmac Salesperson Welfare Association has announced a statewide protest on August 4, escalating tensions ahead of the upcoming Assembly session.
The association said that thousands of employees, along with their family members, will stage a hunger strike outside senior regional manager offices in key cities including Chennai, Salem, Coimbatore, Madurai, and Tiruchy. The protest is scheduled a day before the Assembly convenes, signaling growing unrest among workers.
Warning of further escalation, the association stated that it would launch an indefinite strike if the government proceeds with privatisation without addressing employee concerns. “If a decision on privatisation is taken without considering the workers, Tasmac shops across Tamil Nadu will not operate,” said Ku Bharathi, president of the association.
The protest follows reports that the state government is considering privatising Tasmac outlets in urban local bodies and municipalities. Sources indicate that amendments to the Prohibition and Excise Act may be introduced in the forthcoming Assembly session to facilitate the move.
The association highlighted concerns over job security, noting that around 23,000 employees currently work in Tasmac, a decline from approximately 36,000 in 2003. It alleged that many workers with over two decades of service remain on contract without being regularised.
The proposed move has also drawn criticism from the AITUC-affiliated Tamil Nadu Tasmac Employees Union. Its state president, Periyasamy N, rejected arguments that privatisation would improve quality or efficiency. He argued that government control ensures a degree of regulation in both production and retail, whereas monitoring private operators could prove more challenging.
Defending the state-run liquor retail model, the union said it was originally introduced to prevent private syndicates from dominating the trade and generating what it described as “non-productive money.” Instead of privatisation, the union urged the government to maintain control over the entire supply chain—from production to distribution—and gradually move toward prohibition through awareness campaigns.
With protests looming and strong opposition from employee groups, the issue is expected to become a key point of contention in the upcoming Assembly session.