The issue of raising the pension age has once again sparked heated debates and controversies in the state. The government's move to raise the upper age limit for college lecturer recruitment to 50 has already sparked protests and opposition from a crowd. The accusation is that raising the age of appointment of college teachers to 50, in a state where thousands of youngsters who have obtained the highest educational qualifications are wandering in search of employment, is treason. It is necessary to increase the pension age of college lecturers in proportion to raising the recruitment age. The proposal to raise the retirement age of government-aided lecturers to 60 is part of this. There are indications that there is a move to raise the pension age of lecturers working in Universities to 65, just like at Central Universities. Experienced, capable, and qualified teachers are a great asset to universities and colleges. Sixty and sixty-five years of age is not a time to retire from service.

The college lecturers who joined after the introduction of participatory pension in 2013 can continue till 60. Pension will not be given to them from the government treasury and that is why they are given the benefit of continuing in service till they are 60. The retirement age of government and private college lecturers who joined the service before 2013 is also proposed to be unified at 60. It is not a measure that creates a huge financial liability for the government and in the long run, it will also bring benefits to the government.

The dissimilar approach is not only to the retirement age of college lecturers. While doctors in the health department retire at the age of 56, medical college doctors have service up to 60. State employees must retire when they reach 56, but members of the Participatory Pension Scheme can continue until age 60. The pensionable age in state public sector institutions is 58. Hence the discrepancy in pension age is very evident.

Youth organizations are strongly opposing this, pointing out that raising the pension age in Kerala, where unemployment is rampant, will have a detrimental effect on the youth. But if we look around we will realize that this is a baseless concern. Fifteen thousand or slightly more appointments are made through PSC in a year and it takes many years of waiting for that. Once the pension age is increased, the benefits will also be available to those who immediately follow. 55 or 56 is ​​not a very old age these days. It is a great loss to have to bid farewell to the service at a time when intelligence and industriousness are at their highest.