Saturday, January 14, 2017

Include Pongal in list of compulsory holidays: Paneerselvam

Include Pongal in list of compulsory holidays: Paneerselvam

Pongal is among 12 holidays that the Centre considers optional. This means Pongal is not a compulsory holiday for Central Government offices in Tamil Nadu.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday requesting that Pongal be included in the list of Compulsory Holidays to be observed by all Central Government Administrative offices in Tamil Nadu.

Mr. Panneerselvam requested that just as the Government of India’s Circular relating to list of 12 optional holidays from which three are to be selected includes an ‘Additional day for Dusshera’, an ‘Additional day for Pongal’ may also be included in the list of optional holidays.

The Chief Minister referred to a Centre's notification of a list of holidays, in which 14 days are categorised 'compulsory holidays’, and further three holidays from a list of 12 optional holidays are to be notified by the Central Government Employees Welfare Co-ordination Committee in different State Capitals. He pointed out that Pongal was among in the list of 12 optional holidays, which meant Pongal was not a compulsory holiday for Central Government offices in Tamil Nadu.

"This apparent diminution in the importance accorded to Pongal for the past several years has created disquiet and an impression that an important people’s festival of Tamil Nadu has been ignored by the Central Government," Mr. Panneerselvam contended.

If Pongal was included in the list of compulsory holidays for central government offices in Tamil Nadu, it would "ensure that Thiruvalluvar day could also be declared as a holiday by the Central Government Employees Welfare Co-ordination Committee of Tamil Nadu, to enable the employees of Central Government Offices working in Tamil Nadu to participate fully in the festivities connected with Pongal," the Chief Minister added.

Pongal, the prominent harvest festival of Tamil Nadu, is a social festival that transcended all religions and a number of social, recreational and sporting events including jallikattu were organised along with Pongal festivities, which usually last for three or four days, he said. For the State Government, the holidays start from January 14 and last till January 16, which is Uzhavar Tirunal (Farmers Day).
Pongal falls on the first day of the Tamil Month of ‘Thai’.

0 comments:

Post a Comment

Now Trending

34% DA Order for Central Govt Employees wef 01.01.2022 - Latest CG Employees DA Order Jan 2022

 DA Order for Central Government Employees from Jan 2022 - Finmin Order 2022 Latest CG Employees DA Order Jan 2022 Dearness Allowance payabl...

Disclaimer:

All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy of the content on this blog, the same should not be construed as a statement of law or used for any legal purposes. Our blog "Central Government Staff news" accepts no responsibility in relation to the accuracy, completeness, usefulness or otherwise, of the contents. Users are advised to verify/check any information with the relevant department(s) and/or other source(s), and to obtain any appropriate professional advice before acting on the information provided in the blog.

Links to other websites that have been included on this blog are provided for public convenience only.

The blog "Central Government Staff news" is not responsible for the contents or reliability of linked websites and does not necessarily endorse the view expressed within them. We cannot guarantee the availability of such linked pages at all times.

Any suggestions write to us
centralgovernmentnews@gmail.com