Protest against KSRTC’s pension cap proposal
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: KSRTC pensioners will organise a Secretariat march on November 22 to launch the protest against a proposal to cap the pension at `25,000 a month. “The Chief Minister had assured us there will not be a cap on our pensions. We are going ahead with our agitation as we are apprehensive of the government’s decision,” said general secretary of KSRTC Pensioners Organisation PA Muhammed Ashraf.
KSRTC spends around `60 crore per month to give pensions to its 38,516 retirees. It is yet to clear full pension dues of October and November and part payment for the balance of `10,000 for June and September.
Transport Minister Thomas Chandy had earlier assured pensioners the dues would be cleared by September 30. KSRTC is on the verge of securing a loan of `3,000 crore from a consortium of banks. The decision to cap pension liability was to appease lenders, said a trade union leader requesting anonymity.