PUDUCHERRY: A daily-rated PASIC employee, R Krishnamoorthy, who suffered severe burns during a suicide attempt and was admitted to the GH on April 21, succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday morning.
Krishnamoorthy (42) allegedly tried to kill himself because of the financial hardships due to non-receipt of salary for nearly 10 months.
The news of his death came on the first anniversary of the All India NR Congress leader N Rangasamy assuming office of Chief Minister last year.
PASIC employees struggle committee leader, P Lakshmanasamy, told reporters on Wednesday that the government was solely to be blamed for the death.
Krishnamoorthy tried to kill himself at his residence at Karasur near Villianur. However, the employee’s salary (90 per cent) was released after his suicide bid came to light.
The PASIC employees were not paid salary for the last 11 months, said Lakshmanasamy.
He added that the employees despite put to hardships were attending their duties.
PASIC was a profit-making PSU till 2006-2007 and a dividend of `3.5 crore was disbursed till then. But it fell into bad days and accumulated a loss of over `30 crore.Lakshmanasamy said mismanagement by certain corrupt officials was the main reason for the loss.
He cited the political parties, which came to power, engaging persons of their choice, in PASIC, disproportionate to the work load as another reason for the accumulating loss. Lakshmanasamy charged that corrupt officials were posted at the helm of affairs when PASIC was making profit.
The trade union leader said the employees of PASIC were still working despite not receiving salary while the employees of Anglo French Textiles, which has an accumulated loss of about `400 crore,were paid salaries till date. The AFT was not functioning for the last few months.
Meanwhile, the agitated PASIC employees and relatives of Krishnamoorthy refused to accept the body and tried to stage a road blockade. But officials from Grand Bazaar station held discussions and pacified them following which they dispersed.