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Chief Minister M K Stalin unveils the Tamil Nadu Assured Pension Scheme, promising 50 per cent of last drawn salary as pension, family benefits, and dearness allowance hikes, fulfilling a 20-year demand of government employees and teachers.
Tamil Nadu launches new assured pension scheme.
Chennai: In a major move for government employees and teachers, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday announced the Tamil Nadu Assured Pension Scheme, or TAPS. The scheme promises benefits similar to the Old Pension Scheme, marking the fulfillment of a demand that has been pending for over two decades. Under the scheme, government employees will receive 50 per cent of their last drawn salary as assured pension after retirement.
The Chief Minister detailed that while employees would continue their 10 per cent contribution to the Pension Fund, the state government will bear the entire additional financial burden. Annual expenditure for implementing TAPS is expected to be around Rs 11,000 crore, with an additional Rs 13,000 crore infusion into the Pension Fund required for initial setup. Stalin emphasized that the contributory amount will grow every year depending on employee salaries, ensuring long-term sustainability of the scheme.
Under TAPS, pensioners will receive regular dearness allowance adjustments every six months, matching government employee hikes. In the event of a pensioner’s death, 60 per cent of the pension will be granted to nominees as family pension. Employees who die in service or at retirement will be eligible for death gratuity up to Rs 25 lakh, depending on years of service. For those retiring without completing the qualifying period, a minimum pension will be provided, while employees under the Contributory Pension Scheme prior to TAPS will receive a Special Compassionate Pension.
The announcement was warmly welcomed by representatives of the Joint Action Council of Tamil Nadu Teachers Organisations and Government Employees Organisation, or JACTO-GEO. Office-bearers thanked the Chief Minister for fulfilling the 23-year struggle for a reliable pension scheme. The CM also highlighted the announcement as a New Year and Pongal gift for government employees, reinforcing the Dravidian Model of governance that prioritizes citizen welfare.
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The new pension scheme has been widely appreciated across political parties including CPI(M). CM Stalin, in a social media post, stressed that the DMK government remains committed to fulfilling public and employee demands automatically, as Tamil Nadu’s fiscal status improves. The scheme is being hailed as visionary and practical, ensuring financial security for employees, teachers, and their families while reinforcing trust in government policies.
