The Kerala government faced sharp criticism in the Assembly on Wednesday, 22 January, over alleged delays in providing service benefits to government employees and pensioners. Opposition members accused the administration of withholding over Rs 1 lakh crore in dues, including dearness allowance, salary revisions, and leave- surrender benefits, while questioning the financial state of the government.
The concerns were raised on the same day a section of government employees held statewide protests demanding immediate action. Key demands included salary revisions, reinstatement of leave surrender, and the clearance of pending allowances. Trade unions also extended support to the protests, intensifying pressure on the administration.
Opposition leaders alleged that several benefits previously enjoyed by employees, such as service weightage and city compensatory allowances, had been removed. They claimed the government gained financially by delaying pay revisions and ignoring service weightage. Specific dues highlighted included Rs 35,000 crore in dearness allowance, Rs 24,500 crore in leave surrender, and Rs 5,500 crore in salary revisions.
It was further alleged that employees had not received their rightful benefits for the past six months, which has never happened before. Protesters expressed dissatisfaction with the government’s handling of the issue, stating that their contributions were being undervalued.
In response, the finance minister dismissed the allegations, stating that Kerala remains one of the most employee-friendly states in the country. He emphasised that many of the claims were exaggerated and reiterated the government’s commitment to fulfilling all legitimate dues.
The opposition’s demand for a detailed discussion during the session was denied, leading to a walkout in protest. The dispute underscores the growing tension between government employees and the administration, with calls for urgent resolution to address their grievances.
