THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The uncertainty over payment of salary and pension in KSRTC claimed one more life in the district on Wednesday. A day after an empanel conductor committed suicide, K Sukumaran Nair (72), a pensioner from Venjaramoodu committed ended his life.
A former employee of the KSRTC, Sukumaran Nair retired from the mechanical section of the corporation. In his suicide note Sukumaran Nair narrated his struggle to support his family due to the delay in pension payment.
“The government has blocked my pension and I am unable to find money for my medical expenses. I do not want to trouble anyone. Please cremate me at the cemetery without any rituals,” said the suicide note.
Around 44,000 pensioners had to stage a relay strike to get their pension. Yet, payment for two months are pending. The government has assured to clear the dues before September 30.
The suicide of Sunil Kumar, an empanel conductor at Palode on Tuesday had sparked widespread protest. As the body was kept at Palode KSRTC depot for colleagues to pay tributes, the employees blocked the Thiruvananthapuram-Thenkasi road. They alleged the introduction of single duty system would render many empanel employees jobless.