Nearly 15,000 Kerala government employees will retire by May 31, no action on new appointments

Thiruvananthapuram: Around 15,000 workers will retire on Thursday and Friday. Half of them are teachers. In the Kerala Secretariat alone, 150 people, including five special secretaries, are among the retirees. About 800 people will end their service in the Police, and 60 people in the Motor Vehicles Department. While 674 people, including conductors and drivers, are retiring from the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), they have been directed to return to work from June 1. It was decided to temporarily reinstate them to work.

About 300 employees of the Local Government Department and 461 employees, ranging from office assistants to tehsildars in the Revenue Department, will also retire this month. In the Civil Supplies Department, a total of 66 officials, including the rationing controller and seven district procurement officers, will retire. From the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), 1,099 people, including eight chief engineers, 17 deputy chief engineers and 33 executive engineers, are retiring, but no replacements will be made anytime soon. Procedures for new appointments have been temporarily suspended as part of a reorganization of individual departments aimed at reducing the number of employees.

A total of 48 people, including additional secretaries, are quitting the Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC). Among them, 22 are employees of the PSC headquarters, and 26 are employees of district offices. Sixteen people are retiring from various departments of Kerala University.

The policy is that people in junior positions should be promoted to replace retirees in all departments and vacancies at lower levels should be reported. While promotions are being given to those already employed, candidates on the PSC merit list are not getting jobs as vacancies are not updated on a regular basis.

Borrowed amount is Rs 3,500 crore
An amount of Rs 7,500 crore is required to provide benefits to retiring government employees this month and next. The government on Tuesday borrowed Rs 3,500 crore to pay benefits and salaries for this month.