LDF walkout in Assembly over KSRTC pensioners issue

Thiruvananthapuram: CPI-M led LDF Opposition Thursday staged a walkout in the Assembly alleging that the state government was insensitive towards the problems and difficulties faced by former workers of Kerala State Road Transport Corporation due to non-payment of pension for the last few months.

Seeking leave for the motion, LDF members brought to the notice of the House the suicide of 19 former KSRTC employees in recent months allegedly due to financial problems because of non-receipt of pension amount.

The suicide of a 65-year-old K Gopinathan Pillai, a former staff of KSRTC at Vellarada near here yesterday, was the reason for the LDF moving an adjournment motion on issues connected with the ailing KSRTC.

Replying to the notice for the motion, Transport Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishan said government was very serious in finding a permanent solution to the pension issue.

A meeting has been convened on December 22 by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy to work out a 'Pension Fund', Radhakrishnan said.

Giving details of the financial crisis faced by KSRTC, he said the revenue deficit of the corporation was mounting due to gap between revenue and expenditure.

Annual revenue deficit of the corporation comes to around Rs 1221 crore. However, he said corporation was focusing on increasing its revenue.

"The aim is to increase annual income by Rs 365 crore by raising the revenue collection everyday by Rs one crore," he said.

After the Transport Minister's reply, Deputy Speaker N Sakthan disallowed leave for the motion following which the LDF members staged walkout.

Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan came down heavily on the government and said government was not sincere in lifting the KSRTC from crisis.