Archive · 18 Aug 2026
Rural Development Engineers Urge Tamil Nadu Ministers on Pay Anomalies
In the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, there are engineers who build and look after roads, water supplies, and other things in villages.
These engineers say the government is not paying them the right amount of money.
Since 2017, many of them have lost between 10,000 and 15,000 rupees every month.
That is a lot of money for a family.
The engineers formed a group called TNRDEA to ask for help.
They gave a letter to important government ministers.
They say the government changed their pay rules in a way that was not fair.
A court in Madras told the government to fix this problem in April 2024.
The engineers want the government to give back their correct pay and stop holding back money.
They hope the ministers will listen and make things fair.
The Tamil Nadu Rural Development Engineers Association (TNRDEA) petitioned state ministers for public works, finance, and school education to resolve pay scale anomalies.
About 1,500 rural development engineers across Tamil Nadu are affected by the wage discrepancies.
Engineers have faced recurring monthly salary losses of ₹10,000–₹15,000 since 2017.
Pay scales sanctioned in 2010 under the 6th Pay Commission were allegedly slashed by government orders GO 71 and GO 404.
The association demands restoration of grade pays and implementation of the Madras High Court judgment of April 4, 2024.
- Who
- Tamil Nadu Rural Development Engineers Association (TNRDEA), led by general secretary SSS. Piragalathan, petitioning state ministers for public works, finance, and school education.
- What
- Petition seeking urgent resolution of long-standing pay scale anomalies affecting about 1,500 rural development engineers.
- When
- Petition submitted recently; anomalies causing salary losses since 2017; Madras High Court judgment dated April 4, 2024.
- Where
- Tamil Nadu, India (petition submitted in Chennai).
- Why
- Engineers face recurring monthly salary losses of ₹10,000–₹15,000 due to unrectified wage discrepancies.
- Petitioning body
- Tamil Nadu Rural Development Engineers Association (TNRDEA)
- Affected engineers
- Approximately 1,500
- Monthly salary loss
- ₹10,000–₹15,000 since 2017
- Original pay scales
- Sanctioned in 2010 under the 6th Pay Commission
- Government orders cited
- GO 71 and GO 404
- Court directive
- Madras High Court judgment of April 4, 2024
- Demanded grade pays
- Rs 5,100 (assistant engineers), Rs 6,600 (assistant executive engineers), Rs 7,600 (executive engineers)
- Addressed ministers
- Public works, finance, and school education