THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The service organizations has said that the terms of appointment to the dependents of employees who die while in government service cannot be changed. This position will be clarified in the discussion with the government today at 11 am at Shruti Hall in Secretariat Annex II. Both the administration and the opposition are opposing the draft proposals put forward by the Personnel and Administrative Reforms Department.

The strong objection is to the requirement that the dependent should have completed 13 years of age when the employee dies. The proposal in the draft is that it is enough to give relief money if the child is below 13 years of age. 17 lakhs to 25 lakhs relief money has been recommended based on the post and service of the officer.

It is also proposed to set aside a certain percentage of entry cadre posts including class III, IV, technical section and uniform posts for compassionate appointment. The draft also says that the sixteenth vacancy will be reserved for them based on this. However, the organizations are demanding that there should be no fixed turn and that the method of calculating total vacancies should continue. The practice of the departments being the appointing authority should continue. Another demand is to raise the income limit (currently eight lakhs).

"The government is trying to sabotage the compassionate appointment. The provision of relief money is not acceptable.'

-Irshad MS,

President, Kerala Secretariat Association

"Do not impose income limit and age limit."

-P. Honey,

President, Secretariat Employees Association

"Don't water down the terms of appointment. Financial limit should not be the criterion."

-Chavara Jayakumar

President, NGO Association