THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government is planning to hike the travel allowance of Kerala government's special representative in Delhi. The recommendation to hike the annual travel allowance of K V Thomas, special representative in Kerala House, from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 11.31 lakh has been placed before the subject committee of the assembly. The finance department will now have to take a decision on the recommendation of the public administration department.

The government spends about Rs 30 lakh annually on the honorarium of the special representative, salary of personal staff, air travel fare and fuel cost for the vehicle. Former union minister Prof K V Thomas, expelled from the Congress, was appointed as the special representative in Delhi with cabinet rank on January 19, 2023. The special representative was appointed to protect the interests of Kerala at the national level and to negotiate with the central government and intervene on important issues.

The cabinet meet convened the other day had decided to revise the salary and benefits of the chairman and members of the Kerala Public Service Commission (KPSC). The revised salary for the chairman will be equal to the maximum amount in the super time scale of district judges and for the members will be equal to the maximum amount in the selection grade scale of district judges. The decision was taken after considering the existing service pay system of the PSC Chairman and members in other states.