THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Monthly salary is Rs 1.25 lakh; the job is in chief secretary’s office, ID card with Kerala government’s emblem; visiting card, salutes from security guards. It is two contract employees who are being treated like kings in the special cell of chief secretary’s office, right under the chief minister’s nose.

Though their job is said to be the coordination and overseeing of foreign investors reaching Kerala, their main job has been to book flight tickets and hotel rooms for VIPs. The reformation was brought in by former chief secretary Tom Jose. Though their appointments are on contract, the term is not yet decided.

The two contract employees were recruited through Mint Consultancy that supplies employees for KINFRA. They are Team leader Niranjan J Nair and Deputy Leader Kavitha Pillai.

Though they are entrusted with the duty of interacting with Central government, embassies and national organisations, what they have done till date is the coordination of foreign trip made by the chief secretary along with the chief minister and other ministers.

The special cell was formed on January 31, 2019 with Team leader (salary Rs 75,000–1.25lakh), two deputy leaders (salary Rs 40,000–75,000). The order in this regard was issued by Principal secretary Dr A Jayatilak.