"During festival seasons, if we get 3 or 4 consecutive days off, don’t we all think of going to our hometown and spending peaceful time with our wife and children? But because of the minister’s events, even that happiness has disappeared..!" This is how government employees in Pudukkottai district are lamenting, with both worry and anger.
Their allegations that they are being forced to participate in government functions attended by district minister Mohamed Parvez even during the Ayudha Pooja holidays have now sparked a storm.
The holiday meant to be spent with family.. turned into a sorrowful time at events!
In Pudukkottai district, about 60 percent of those employed in government service at the district level are from various other districts. On festival days such as Deepavali and Ayudha Pooja, when they get consecutive holidays, government employees working away from home usually plan with great joy to go to their native places and meet their parents, wife, and children. Even if they cannot get a bus, they eagerly wait, thinking they can still make it home standing all the way.
However, government employees’ association representatives say that this joy has been completely lost during this Ayudha Pooja holiday period.

17 events in a single day:
Speaking about recent events, they said, "On Sunday, Oct. 18 alone, a total of 17 government events were held in a single day, including a community baby shower, inauguration of new buildings, launch of bus services, and opening of a drinking water purification plant. Minister Mohamed Parvez attended and inaugurated new projects; the next day, on Oct. 19, he also took part in an event at the Raniyar Government Maternity Hospital where a gold ring was presented to a newborn. Since district- and taluk-level officials were ordered to mandatorily attend, no one could even go to their hometowns on the holiday and had to take part in the minister's events, grumbling all the while.
“And in the Alangudi area, there was a baby shower ceremony, the Pudukkottai Medical College function, and rice distribution at ration shops—this stream of events has not stopped,” they say with frustration.
Those who continued speaking to us further said,
"Not all government employees are provided with government vehicles. There is also no bus service to the venue on time. As a result, government employees are forced to run around arranging vehicles at their own expense. The same situation existed during the previous regime as well; but we cannot accept that the same miserable condition continues even under this government, which came to power promising 'change'," say government officials working here from other districts, in anguish.
They also lament that the minister has wasted their festive holiday and joy, leaving them unable to do anything, including going to the hospital or attending to personal matters.
Minister’s explanation
Regarding these allegations by government employees, we contacted the Minister for Labour Welfare and Skill Development and Pudukkottai District in-charge Minister, Mohammed Parvez, and sought his explanation.
"It is precisely so that good schemes reach the people that, on the orders of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, we ministers have been working for the welfare of the people without regard to time or occasion. None of this is for our own self-interest. I have been working day and night for the development and welfare of the district’s people.
In particular, it is imperative that welfare schemes reach the people without hindrance. Only if certain welfare assistance and medical infrastructure-related initiatives are delivered to the public at the right time will their benefits reach the people immediately. Such measures are being taken to ensure that government schemes do not get delayed.
The district administration, the medical college dean, and the respective department officials are the ones who organize the events and invite me. Considering the urgent needs and welfare of the people, the department heads and officials decide these dates; there is no pressure from any individual in this. It is only at their invitation, and in the interest of the people’s welfare, that I too participate despite various work pressures. It is not appropriate for some to speak as if this were an event I organized or as if I had forced government employees to attend.

In serving the people, the government machinery, ministers, and government employees all work together. When this sometimes becomes unavoidable, government employees should accept it magnanimously for the welfare of the people; instead, some people, out of malice, blow it out of proportion. Just as it cares about the welfare of the people, our TVK government has always been concerned about the welfare of government employees as well. Everyone should clearly understand that the government’s aim is to work for the welfare of all. In the future, this will definitely be taken into careful consideration.” he said.
