THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The State government has cut a sorry figure by hiking the phone/internet allowance of government secretaries even when the government is going about advocating salary challenge and austerity measures to face the aftereffects of flood.

Rs 36000 allowance of secretaries have been hiked to Rs 90,000. It is the finance department that has issued an order in this regard.
Monthly allowance of Rs 3000 for land phone and mobile phones has been hiked to Rs 7500.

Rs 36000 yearly allowance for internet data has been increased to Rs 90,000. Besides this, secretaries will get Rs 30,000 once in two years to buy mobile phones.

At a time when internet/mobile service providers are vying with one another to lure customers with attractive offers, giving such a big amount as allowance is illogical, opines the social media.