COIMBATORE: Employees of Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac) are unhappy as the administration has mandated that they achieve up to 50% of the total collection per day through digital transactions. Tasmac administration has started issuing memos to employees working in outlets, seeking an explanation for not achieving the target.
In a memo issued to two supervisors and two salesmen working at Tasmac outlet (5467) in Madurai, dated June 25, the administration asked why departmental disciplinary action should not be initiated against the four staff for not achieving the 25% target of digital transactions daily in their outlet. The memo, issued by a Tasmac manager, pointed that they were not discharging their duties in a diligent manner.
D Dhanasekaran, general secretary of Tamil Nadu Tasmac Employees Union, affiliated to AITUC, said, "It is up to the customers to pay by cash, card or UPI. The salesperson cannot compel the customer to pay digitally. Memos have been issued to employees in several districts, seeking explanation for not achieving a particular percentage of digital transactions. It is not right to push the employees to a corner."
A supervisor at a Tasmac shop in Coimbatore said, "Tasmac has split up the target area-wise. In Coimbatore city limits, employees are given up to 50% target. In rural areas, it is around 25%. This practice started since two weeks. Earlier, there was no compulsion over digital transactions. To achieve the targets, salesmen are carrying out such transactions on their own or through their friends. Bar contractors are taking cash from the outlet and paying through debit cards. Every morning, the management sends the percentage details shop-wise and points out to those shops where the targets are not achieved, leaving the employees stressed.”
Speaking to TNIE, R Govindharasu, Senior Regional Manager (SRM), Coimbatore said, "On a pilot basis, the administration has initiated the practice to promote digital transactions. Accordingly, 30% target has been set for shops under corporation limits, 25% in municipal and town panchayats and 10% in rural areas."
He denied the 50% target for shops in city limits.
Despite repeated attempts, Prohibition and Excise Minister S Muthusamy was not available for a comment.