School teacher not receiving salary for thirteen years despite court order; husband without salary for two months; son’s education cost drive Shijo to suicide

PATHANAMTHITTA: The head of a family in financial crisis committed suicide after the education department officials withheld a teacher's salary despite a court order. V.T. Shijo (46) was found hanging in a forest area one and a half kilometers away from his house on Sunday. His wife Lekha Raveendran is a teacher at Naranammoozhy St. Joseph School.

Lekha has not been receiving her salary for thirteen years. The previous teacher had moved to BRC fearing division fall. Lekha, who was appointed in her place, was in legal trouble and did not receive her salary. After approaching the High Court, an order was issued to pay Lekha's salary with retroactive effect. Still, the Pathanamthitta District Education Office did not fix the salary documents. Subsequently, the family approached the department minister several times. The minister's office had directed the officials to correct the documents for the payment of salary. The family alleges that the officials did not do this.

Shijo was going to spend the money he received from his wife's salary for his son's engineering admission. Shijo's father Thyagarajan said that Shijo was worried that his son's college admission would be delayed due to the financial crisis. Education Minister V. Sivankutty spoke to Thyagarajan on the phone. Thyagarajan, a district committee member of the Karshaka Sangham, has a CPM supporting family. Shijo's brother is a DYFI activist. The funeral will be held at 3 pm on Wednesday. Shijo's only son is Vaishnav. Mother: Komalam.

Shijo's salary also delayed

The salary of Shijo, who worked as a temporary field assistant at VFPCK under the Agriculture Department, has also been in arrears for months. While two months of salary arrears remain, relatives said that 15 days' salary has reached Shijo's account today.

Shijo's father says that there has been a delay in the process of getting the salary due to Shijo's wife. This is a serious lapse. Necessary follow-up steps will be ensured to prevent such tragedies from recurring. -Minister V. Sivankutty