Thiruvananthapuram, March 31 (Inditop.com) More than 20,000 Kerala government employees had their last day in office Wednesday. The mass retirement follows the Left government’s move to allow employees retiring any day during the year to work till March 31, which closes the fiscal year.
Under Finance Minister Thomas Isaac’s instructions last year, the government allowed all employees who attain the state’s retirement age of 55 to remain in service till the end of that financial year.
According to government sources, of the 20,000 employees who retire Wednesday, more than 12,000 are teachers. The total financial commitment for the state exchequer is said to be around Rs.1,500 crore.
On Wednesday, the state assembly witnessed heated exchanges as the Congress-led opposition sought an adjournment motion to discuss the issue. The opposition said this will impose a huge financial burden on Kerala.
Congress legislator V.D. Sateeshan also pointed out that a large number of senior officials will retire in one go, creating problems in the working of several offices.
But the finance minister said the govenrment had money pay money to all retiring employees.
