Thrissur: Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs O J Janeesh on Friday distanced himself from the proposal to enhance the retirement age of government employees, as introduced in the white paper published by the state government. The minister argued that the proposal is only a recommendation made by the panel to overcome the acute financial crisis that the state is facing and not a government policy.
Minister's Stance on the Proposal
“I don’t think the government will accept that recommendation. The proposal is not acceptable even if it is for tiding over the state’s financial crisis,” said Janeesh, who is also the state president of Youth Congress. He emphasized that the Youth Congress has consistently opposed the enhancement of the retirement age, and there is no change in that position.
Allegations Against Previous Government
Janeesh alleged that the previous LDF government had enhanced the retirement age in several public sector institutions, which the DYFI did not oppose. This led to the deprivation of about 35,000 job opportunities for the youth in Kerala, he said. The minister added that the people had endorsed the continuous agitations conducted by Youth Congress against the move to raise the retirement age, and this was visible in the electoral verdict.
