Kitchen securities of K M Mani.

The recommendation of the Kerala Public Expenditure Review Committee for 2011-'12  to raise the retirement age of state government employees from 56 years to 58 years is obnoxious. The committee has out rightly neglected the aspirations of the educated youth of the state. What is actually needed is the restoration of the previous retirement age of 55.  

If there is any water in the finding of the committee that the state government and autonomous bodies like KSRTC and universities are heading towards a pension payment crisis, it is due to the mismanagement of higher-ups of these bodies. The minister and directors in charge of these bodies should be held responsible for the dismal condition of these institutions. While KSRTC faces a pension payment crisis there is no dearth of fund for constructing new buildings and for buying worthless gadgets like ticket vending machines. For instance in Cherthala bus station a new building is under construction when the retirees of the corporation are in sit-in-strike for their monthly pension.

The committee’s suggestion to collect an amount equivalent to 10% of the basic pay of all pensionable staff every month for five years is utopian as none would care to payback this amount after five years or at the time of retirement. The present denial of paying pension in time, is an astute example of going back from the assurance given by previous governments. What the committee should have suggested is the action for immediate collection of money from defaulters There are a number public and private companies which are defaulters in tune with crores of rupees to the government.

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And while receiving this report the finance minister K  M Mani said, before implementing the suggestion of the committee about pension age hike, he would take in faith and of course think of the fate of unemployed youths.  If one has no loss of memory this is an adequate gesture from Mani for an immediate laughter. Seemingly the Expenditure Review Committee members are kitchen securities of K M Mani.

K A Solaman
The New Indian Express published on 6-2-2014