Chennai: State government liquor outlet, Tasmac, has earned revenue to ₹ 33,811.14 crore during the last fiscal, the highest since the exclusive privileges of the IMFS retail seller was given in 2003.
The income was ₹ 33,133.24 crore in the previous fiscal.
The government on Tuesday announced a salary increase of ₹ 500 to 25,000 Tasmac, including supervisors and salesmen, with a retrospective effect from April.
Incidentally, the previous AIDMK regime had closed the outlet for a while during the first wave of Pandemic Covid.
“Tasmac gets ₹ 7,907.61 crore at this fiscal until July 31,” said the policy note submitted in the Assembly.
According to orders issued by the government from time to time to prevent the spread and control Covid-19 infection, retail seller outlets and IMFS depots have followed standard operating procedures.
Tasmac runs 5,402 retail outlets and 2,808 bars in the state.
Intervention in the debate in the Assembly, Prohibition and Excise Minister V Senthil Balaji said there would be no online sale of liquor.
The Minister responded to the former Electricity Minister and AIDMK MLA P Thangamani, who urged the government to reconsider his decision about online sales quoting media reports.
“What will be thought of the neighbors if the man ordered online and stepped out and the supply was made for women at home.
This step will affect the community,” said the former minister.
To encourage transactions without cash in Tasmac, the Point of Sale engine has been installed in all retail outlets.