Highlighting the issue of low honorariums paid to local body councillors, C. Suchithakumari, a councillor of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) of the city Corporation, has tendered her resignation to take up a job as a contingent worker in the Corporation.
Suchithakumari, who represents the Thrikkannapuram ward, forwarded her resignation to the Corporation secretary after the party gave her the go-ahead, considering her precarious financial situation.
Speaking to The Hindu , Ms. Suchithakumari said that she had enjoyed her work as a councillor, but could not go ahead with the low honorarium provided.
“Councillors currently get an honorarium of Rs.4,000. It was even lesser a few years ago. With this amount, it is hard to run a family. My husband passed away a few years ago. I have two children studying in higher secondary classes and to give them a good education, I have to take up a job. I had applied at the employment exchange earlier and they called me for an interview. The last date to join is nearing and so I had to quit my post,” she said.
Rejecting suggestions that she had problems with her party, she said that she will continue to be a party activist. “We have survived this long thanks to the party. So I will continue to work for the party,” she said.
No by-poll will be conductedas the remaining tenure is less than six months. With local body elections scheduled to take place this year, the strength of the ruling LDF in the 100-member council has been reduced to 50. The United Democratic Front has 42, Bharatiya Janata Party has six, and there is an Independent councillor. “We have hardly three or four council meetings left in this tenure and not many important decisions need to be passed in the council. So, the numbers will not be much of an issue for us,” the sources said.
She could not go ahead with low honorarium
