THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Youth Commission chairperson Chintha Jerome has sent a letter to the finance department stating that there is no money to pay salaries and benefits to the employees of the commission. She demanded money including her salary arrears. However, only Rs 18 lakh was granted.

Rs 76.06 lakh was permitted for the Youth Commission in the last budget. As it was not enough, Rs 9 lakh was sanctioned in December. Apart from all this, another Rs 18 lakh was sanctioned again. The amount was sanctioned at a time when the state is going through a severe economic crisis never seen before.

Chintha demanding salary arrears amidst financial crisis had sparked a controversy. The government issued an order sanctioning the arrears of Rs 8.5 lakh following the letter sent by Chintha. When the issue turned controversial, Chintha told media that she had not sent any letter and asked them to expose it if there was such a letter. Chintha had also asserted that if she gets such a huge amount, she will donate it to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. Chintha was not ready to respond after the letter was exposed.

Chintha sent the letter to the then principal secretary M Sivasankar demanding her dues. M Sivasankar had forwarded the letter on August 22 in 2022 and following that an order was issued after sanctioning the amount.