Despite the demand from various quarters, a decision to enhance the retirement age of government employees will be made only after taking into confidence the youth and youth organisations, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has said.
“I will not say that the demand to increase the retirement age from the present 56 years is wrong considering the human lifespan.” But the sentiments of the youth should be respected, Mr. Chandy said, while replying to questions after a Cabinet meeting here on Wednesday.
‘Tough to implement’
While the number of those getting government jobs had gone up from 25,000 to 30,000 annually after the present United Democratic Front government came to power, 25 lakh people applied annually for government jobs, Mr. Chandy said. The youth were dejected as they thought raising the retirement age further would deny them government jobs.
“Demands have come from several quarters. It is practically impossible to implement,” he said.
On the Opposition stand that it would prevent Finance Minister K.M. Mani from presenting the budget in the Assembly, the Chief Minister said the Opposition should avoid a “militant attitude,” and adopt a democratic way. The Opposition should not forget that the government had the majority in the Assembly, he said.
On the Finance Commission award to the State going up to 42 per cent, Mr. Chandy said actual gain would not be felt as the share of the Union government in Centrally sponsored schemes had reduced.
The long-pending demand for enhanced allocation and more freedom had finally been okayed, he said.
The financial difficulties faced by the State had not prevented the government from taking care of the needs of the people, Mr. Chandy said.
A sum of Rs.400 crore had been distributed from the Chief Minister’s relief fund. The amount disbursed, including for pension, by the Social Justice Department was around Rs.5,000 crore.
The Cabinet decided to appoint former Director General of Police M.N. Krishnamoorthy as Special Officer of the National University for Police Science and Security Services to be set up in the capital city.