Will youngsters lose opportunity? Govt clueless about raising retirement age

The demand to increase the pension age of government employees and teachers has been dangling in news circles over the years. The Administrative Reforms Commission and the Pay Reform Commission have submitted recommendations at every stage of the discussion. The last recommendation came from the Administrative Reforms Commission chaired by former Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan.

Despite the amble recommendations, the government continued its lackadaisical stance of keeping a blind eye to the issue. After many years of stagnancy, the Cabinet meeting last Wednesday decided not to increase the pension age. A secretary-level committee headed by the Chief Secretary was appointed to study the recommendations of the Fourth Administrative Reforms Commission. The commission recommended raising the pension age but the government turned their back on the issue. Many other recommendations of the committee have been accepted by the cabinet with necessary changes.

The government is holding back from taking a practical decision on the pension age issue fearing protest from the lakhs of youngsters waiting for employment. But most of the states and the central government have already increased the pension age. In all these states, no authentic evidence showed a spike in unemployment despite the reforms. Furthermore, the reforms have not ruined Kerala youngsters' dreams.

Will Kerala’s unemployment end if PSC decides to recruit 16000 youngsters every year? The heart of the issue lies in the government’s lack of vision in the pension age crisis. Years back, the retirement age was increased to 56, to avoid having to pay huge sums of money in retirement benefits.

Today’s generation is more productive and virile even in their 60s. The retirement age should be determined based on the services rendered by each category to the society.

In the state, college teachers and school teachers have to retire at 50, while UGC salary earners have a pension age of 60 or 65. The claims of youths losing job opportunities in case of pension age increase is factoid nonetheless. When youths get the opportunity, the service period will be extended accordingly.

It was also suggested in the last cabinet meeting that vacancies should be reported to the PSC every year. Is there any dearth of behind-the-door appointments in PSC? They are continuing with such heinous moves only at the cost of many youngsters' years of hard work to make it into the rank list.

In Kerala, a new form of governance has taken shape. Expect reforms only during election time. The aim is to gain political brownies. Let us hope the pension issue will be settled soon. Many elections are around the corner in the state.