COIMBATORE: For the 5,500 families waiting for jobs on compassionate grounds in the Tamil Nadu school education department, the ordeal seems unending as the department has not appointed even one person under the category in the last eight years across the state.
Family members of employees who die in harness are given job opportunities under compassionate grounds by the government, but no appointment order was issued to the family members of such employees in school education department after July 11, 2016, shows an RTI reply received by TNIE.
As per an order of the Supreme Court, government appointments on compassionate grounds should be made within six months of the staffer’s death, but the department has failed to comply with this order, sources said.
M Jayapratha (34) of Tiruvarur district, a degree-holder, told TNIE that her husband had worked as a record clerk at a government higher secondary school in Rajamadam, Thanjavur district. Less than two years after their marriage, on May 24, 2020, he passed away due to health issues and she had applied for a job with the school department on compassionate grounds the same year. “I have been waiting for the appointment order for more than four years. Despite submitting multiple petitions to officials, MLAs and the CM’s cell, I’ve not got any call,” she said.
“Since my husband was employed for over 11 years under Contributory Pension Scheme as opposed to the GPF scheme which has many more benefits we received only Rs 8 lakh after his death. The amount was fully spent on paying off the debt incurred for my husband’s medical expenses. To support my child and elderly parents, I have been working as a maidservant at Mannargudi for a monthly salary of Rs 4,000. This amount is not enough to run a family. The government must issue appointment soon,” she said.
A worker under MGNREGA, Mahalakshmi (name changed) of Rajapalayam, Virudhunagar district, said that she has been waiting for the job for eight years since the death of her husband who was a government teacher.
Mahalakshmi urged the department to release a district-wise seniority list so that eligible family members can at least know the status of their applications.
Educationist Su Moorthy, expressing shock at the department’s RTI response, said that it is to set an example for private firms that government jobs offer decent salaries and benefits, including retirement plans and jobs on compassionate grounds. These benefits are gradually being scrapped due to misguided government policies, he said.
When contacted, a senior department official said that 80% of department posts are being filled through recruitment and promotion, and appointing eligible persons under compassionate grounds is still being carried out.
School Education Secretary S Madumathi was not available for comments.