The Tamil Nadu government's decision to implement the Tamil Nadu Assured Pension Scheme (TAPS) has sparked widespread reactions, marking the culmination of a decades-long demand by state employees and teachers. While associations and ruling party allies have welcomed the move with celebrations, opposition parties have sharply criticized it, labeling it a political gimmick ahead of elections.
A Long-Standing Demand Finally Met
Government employees and teachers across Tamil Nadu erupted in joy following the official announcement. Representatives, led by JACTO-GEO state coordinator A Vincent Paulraj, met with Chief Minister M K Stalin and celebrated by exchanging sweets. Paulraj declared that the twenty-three-year struggle of the employees had finally come to an end.
"Our Chief Minister solved our lifeline issue of withdrawing the new pension scheme and implementing TAPS," Vincent said. He highlighted that employees had protested for four-and-a-half years under the DMK government itself, and the CM had now fulfilled the promise.
Political Allies Hail the Decision
The announcement received strong support from DMK's coalition partners. VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan stated that Stalin's decision brought a huge sigh of relief to lakhs of government employees and conveyed his party's heartfelt gratitude.
CPM state secretary P Shanmugam welcomed the move, calling it a victory for the 20-year struggle. He emphasized that the happiness would reach an estimated 9 lakh families of government employees and teachers. Manithaneya Jananayaga Katchi founder Tamimun Ansari praised the government for prioritizing employee welfare despite financial constraints, noting the scheme would require an additional ₹13,000 crore burden on the state exchequer, especially with the BJP-led central government not allocating due funds.
Opposition Slams "Deception" Ahead of Polls
The decision, however, faced immediate backlash from opposition parties. BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran accused the DMK government of a "clear deception tactic" by reinstating the old pension scheme near the end of its term. He pointed out that while the DMK's 2021 election manifesto promised the move, the announcement now suggests they are aware they may not return to power to implement it fully.
"This is nothing but deception, as they are merely pretending to fulfil their promise," Nagenthran told reporters in Trichy. Echoing similar sentiments, PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss called TAPS "a fraudulent tactic designed to mislead government employees ahead of the assembly election."
The implementation of TAPS has thus become a major political flashpoint in Tamil Nadu, delivering on a key populist promise while setting the stage for a heated debate on fiscal responsibility and political intent in the run-up to the next state elections.
