State Govt employees fear vintictive steps for 'No' to salary deduction

Thiruvanthapuram: Reports have been emerging about vindictive action against employees who do not agree to one month's salary deduction, as per government order, for the purpose of raising funds toward rebuilding Kerala after the devastating floods in the state.

Although a political slant has been attributed to the response to the order, with members of staff organizations affiliated to the ruling front (LDF) and the opposition (UDF), expressing opinions for and against the compulsory deduction, in actual fact many employees, regardless of such affiliation, have given their 'No' depending on their will and financial situation; or are in a mood to do the same.

One pro-LDF employee who gave an express 'No'was transferred to a different office in a matter of a few hours, although the transfer was withdrawn soon at the minister's intervention. The transfer is seen as a sign of the government's strong arm methods with its employees.

The UDF quarters are generally accusing the government's move as a goonda exportion. They also point out that many are not able to part with a full month's salary and the drive as it stands now will only result in employees being divided into two classes. It is not the money, but the attitude that is important, argue the pro-UDF leaders.

Those who were affected by the floods included a large section of government employees also and they have not been exempted from the compulsory deduction. Most of the employees have also taken active part in rescue and relilef efforts, in addition to shelling out money through other fund-raising channels. The current decision implies taking another amount from those people too.

Further, staff who have already got to clear monthly payments by way of loans, students education and household expenditure are being put to financial stress according to this section. There is a significant percentage of employees who see merit in this view, not all pro-UDF.

In effect, 'the salary challenge', as the drive is called, is slowly turning into a tug-of-war between the pro-LDF and pro-UDF factions. Government offices are now scene to campaigns by both camps for and against the deduction. Opponents of the salary challenge also accuse the government of using the opportunity to cover up its financial stringency existing even prior to the flood.

The government is in a move to start deducting the salary amount, in installments if requested by employees, from September salary.