As part of an attempt to end the ongoing strike by the state government employees, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has announced an array of welfare measures, including doubling the family welfare fund from Rs.1.50 lakhs to Rs.3 lakhs. She has also agreed to set up an expert committee to look into the prospects of reverting back to the previous pension scheme.

The scrapping of the current pension scheme, which came into effect on April 1, 2003, was one of the main demands of the striking workers. The Chief Minister said that since the issue has to be dealt with at length, an expert committee will be constituted to look into the demand.

Jayalalithaa also announced that the family welfare fund for government employees will be doubled from Rs.1.50 lakh to Rs.3 lakhs. The fund, constituted about 40 years ago, is given to the legal heirs of the employee in the event of his/her death.

The policy claim, under the Group Insurance Scheme for government employees, has now been increased from Rs.1.50 lakh to Rs.3 lakhs. The measure, she said, will cost an additional expenditure of Rs.20 crore to the state exchequer. Also, the services of those who were appointed on compassionate grounds till February 1 will be regularised.