CHENNAI: The State government on Tuesday said it would consider the long-pending demand for a special pension for employees working under the special time scale and issue necessary orders soon.

The announcement is set to benefit ICDS staff, Anganwadi Workers, panchayat staff, village librarians and cleanliness workers.

In the customary address to the Assembly, read out by Speaker M Appavu, the government also flagged a severe strain on its finances due to the Union government’s failure to release funds under the Samagraha Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) this year.

It said the Centre had withheld the allocation, citing Tamil Nadu’s refusal to implement the National Education Policy.

The State urged the Union government to restore adequate funding for the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and accused it of adopting a “negative mindset” towards Tamil Nadu by denying the State its rightful funds.

On language policy, the government opposed what it termed the imposition of Hindi, referring to a University Grants Commission (UGC) circular that makes a third language compulsory in higher education institutions.

It said such a move should not be implemented in the State.

On infrastructure, the government said Phase II of the Chennai Metro Rail project is being implemented after the Centre approved a revised funding pattern, with costs to be shared equally by the Centre and the State.

The Union government is expected to release its share at an appropriate time.