Tasmac to raise shop maintenance allowance to Rs 5,000 from October 1

Chennai, Sep 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) Tasmac will raise the monthly maintenance allocation for its retail liquor shops to Rs 5,000 from October 1, replacing the existing petty cash provision of Rs 750 per outlet.

The state-owned liquor retailer remains a major source of revenue for Tamil Nadu. Tasmac generated nearly Rs 50,000 crore in 2025-26, underlining the scale of its contribution to the state’s finances and its importance as a revenue source for the government.

The revised maintenance allowance will vary according to the location of each shop. Outlets within municipal corporation limits will receive Rs 5,000 a month, while those in municipalities and town panchayats will get Rs 4,000. Shops in rural and village panchayat areas will receive Rs 3,000 monthly.

A circular issued by Tasmac Managing Director K. Nanthakumar sets out the allocations, permitted expenditure and responsibilities of shop supervisors. The funds are intended for maintaining cleanliness and hygiene, providing drinking water and meeting other basic needs of employees and consumers.

However, the higher allocation comes with restrictions on its use. Supervisors cannot spend the money on shop rent, electricity charges, building repairs, furniture, equipment or capital expenditure. Separate funds are available to meet those expenses, the circular states.

The monthly allowance will be credited along with the salary of the supervisor of each retail vending shop. The supervisor will be responsible for utilising the money and maintaining a register recording monthly expenditure.

Receipts supporting expenditure must be preserved for three years. The requirement places responsibility for documenting the use of the allocation on the supervisor overseeing the outlet.

The circular also specifies how the provision will apply to shops that remain closed. If an outlet is shut for an entire month, no maintenance amount will be drawn for that period. However, the sanctioned amount can be utilised in the following month.

The revised system will replace the uniform Rs 750 petty cash provision with allocations linked to the administrative area in which each outlet operates.

Corporation-area shops will receive the highest allowance under the arrangement.

Tasmac has also announced an annual increase in the maintenance rates. The allocations will rise by five per cent every year, with effect from April 1, 2027. The provision is therefore subject to both spending restrictions and recordkeeping requirements, alongside the scheduled annual revision.

Source: IANS