Editorial: TASMAC reform must not be held hostage to strikes

The recent strike by employees of the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC), which disrupted operations at hundreds of liquor outlets across the State, deserves strong criticism for placing public convenience and institutional accountability at risk.

Reports indicate that more than 650 outlets were affected during the November 1 and 2 agitation, with customers facing closed shutters, long queues and uncertainty ahead of the Deepavali festival. While employees have every right to raise legitimate workplace grievances, shutting down public-facing services without adequate notice or a constructive resolution is hardly a responsible way to pursue them.

The revised empty-bottle return mechanism, introduced to improve transparency and environmental accountability, cannot be dismissed merely because its implementation requires changes in established working practices. The scheme seeks to ensure that the ₹10 environmental and social welfare cess incorporated into the bottle’s maximum retail price is properly accounted for and refunded when eligible bottles are returned. A protest that obstructs such a reform risks undermining a public-interest initiative and inconveniencing consumers who have no role in the dispute.

The government is therefore justified in insisting that essential operations continue and that employees discharge their responsibilities while grievances are addressed through dialogue. The Tamil Nadu government’s efforts to streamline TASMAC deserve appreciation because they address longstanding concerns about transparency, accountability and the functioning of a vast state-run retail network.

The revised bottle-return system is intended to eliminate ambiguity surrounding separate collections, improve the tracking of refunds and ensure that unclaimed amounts are directed towards environmental objectives.

The government deserves credit for pursuing a more accountable bottle-return system and restoring operations, while employees must recognise that institutional change is inevitable and that their cooperation is essential to its success.

The way forward is neither unchecked union pressure nor inflexible administration, but responsible negotiation backed by firm expectations: modernise the system, protect legitimate worker interests and ensure that public services are not repeatedly disrupted. Tamil Nadu’s effort to make TASMAC more transparent and efficient is a necessary step; it should be strengthened, not derailed by strikes.