THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It has been decided to seize 25 percent of the monthly basic salary of government employees who do not protect their dependents after getting a dependent appointment. This will be a huge relief to thousands of elderly and disabled people as the amount will be given to the deserving ones. Yesterday, the cabinet meeting decided to issue an order instructing the concerned appointing authorities to implement the decision of the state government.

The crucial decision comes in the context of receiving complaints from many people who are suffering from not getting protection from their children or in-laws who have been appointed on dependent claims. The measure which is limited to government employees may be applied to public sector institutions like KSEB, KSRTC and Devaswom Board in the next phase.

Dependent employment is made available under the Compassionate Employment Scheme. The dependent enters service by giving an agreement to protect the other dependents of the deceased employees. Many people violate this rule after getting a job. Women who do not take care of their husband's parents after getting a job in the name of a husband who died while in service, and children who do not take care of their parents after getting a dependent appointment in the name of their father or mother will be in trouble.

In the Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan proposed to make the provision of care up to the age of 17 to be continued even after that.

Complain can be filed

If an employee joining the job under the Compassionate Employment Scheme does not take care of the dependents, the dependents can file a written complaint against them to the concerned appointing authority. Food, property, shelter, treatment and care fall under the definition of protection.

Inquiry and Procedure

1. The complaints of the dependents should be investigated through the Tehsildar concerned and the respective appointing authorities should take the report.
2. Based on the investigation report, 25 percent of the basic salary of the culprits should be seized every month and deposited in the bank accounts of the dependents.
3. Employees aggrieved by the Tehsildar's investigation can appeal to the respective District Collector within three months. The decision taken by the District Collector will be final.
4. Dependents are not eligible for protection under Compassionate Employment Scheme if they are in receipt of family pension benefits.
5. Employed employees are also obliged to protect their dependents who receive social security pensions and pensions from welfare boards.

Son-in-law who got the daughter's job gave double grief

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Venu, a native of Karamana, had four daughters. Anjali, the youngest, got a job as a civil police officer at the age of 25. Anjali, who was the supporter of her father and mother, got married in 2010. Her husband was a temporary employee of KSEB. Anjali died in a car accident less than four months after her marriage.

Even after Anjali's death, her husband stayed at her house. He became the son to Venu and his wife. It was then that Anjali's colleagues came to them with an application for a dependent appointment for someone in her family. Anjali's elder sister lived with her parents as her husband died. The situation was that either Anjali's sister or her husband will get a job and it depended on the parent's decision. Seeing their son-in-law as a son, Venu and his wife gave him the job with the thought that his son-in-law would support them. After entering the service, he got married again and never checked on them again. Venu and his wife spent their lives at the mercy of their children till their death.