Octogenarian Refuses to Draw Pension

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM With the help of Kuruvila, Cherian’s wife submitted an application before former Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan. Later Kuruvila took up the challenging task of setting the files on the move through a number of government offices. Each time, Kuruvila was confronted by a volley of queries.

 In 2011, Mary Cherian found the original copy  of the order granting pension and gratuity benefits to him issued in 1990 hidden in the pillow. The pension allotted was `1,392 and gratuity amounted to `45,000.

 With these documents, Mary Cherian submitted an application to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy  on April 2, 2012, for a special sanction for pension which was granted on January 4, 2014. The sanction was given to draw pension from

Changanacherry treasury. An amount of `17.5 lakh was credited to Cherian’s Treasury account as pension arrears since July 1, 2009. The octogenarian is now eligible to get `42,000 as monthly pension, which he has refused to draw.

 Kuruvila said Cherian is yet to claim the salary from 1966 to 1985 period, leave surrender for 71 days, GPF amount he had paid for 14 years, its accumulated interest, LIC claims and pension for the period from 1989 to 2009, altogether amounting to several lakhs.

 But Cherian is not willing to sign the papers to submit the application.

 Fr K V Paulose, former Head of the Dept of Economics, Baselius College, Kottayam, who is giving moral support to Cherian’s family, says his daughter a bright student has suffered on account of his decision.

 “I persuaded his daughter Soosy Cherian to complete Montessori Teacher’s training course and later engaged her as a teacher in a school run by our church,” said Fr Paulose.

 Asked why she could not persuade her father to allow them to draw his pension benefits, the 54-year-old Soosi Cherian he does not even allow anyone to even speak to him.

 “If ever I find God, I would ask him why he had created such a man who cannot love even his daughter,” Soosi said.