Social media abuzz with criticism as government prioritizes Rs. 9 lakh payment to ex-Youth Commission Chairperson as salary due while farmers struggle for funds

Thiruvananthapuram: In a controversial move, the state government, grappling with its inability to provide much-needed financial support to farmers, has disbursed a sum of nine lakh rupees to Chintha Jerome. This payment clears the backlog of salary owed during her tenure as Chairperson of the Youth Commission. When Chintha initially assumed the role of Youth Commission Chairperson, her salary stood at Rs. 50,000. Subsequently, it was raised to Rs. 1 lakh, a decision driven by the state government’s special interest. Chintha had persistently advocated for this salary increase to be applied retroactively. Her request has now been granted, and the funds have been disbursed.

The sum of Rs. 8,80,645, amounting to an additional salary of Rs. 50,000 for the period spanning from January 2017 to May 25, 2018, was transferred on the previous day. Chintha assumed the position of Chairperson of the Youth Commission in 2016 and has consistently advocated for her salary to be raised to Rs. 1 lakh. This increase was eventually implemented starting on January 6. The arrears from that date have now been settled during the Onam festival. As a result, Chintha has received approximately Rs. 92 lakh in total earnings during her tenure as the Youth Commission Chairperson, inclusive of other benefits.

Chintha’s time as the Youth Commission Chairman was marked by significant controversy, including disputes surrounding her doctoral degree in English literature. Furthermore, her ungrammatical social media posts, despite her English doctorate, stirred controversy on various social media platforms.

Actor Jayasurya’s recent remarks regarding state government payments to paddy farmers have ignited widespread discussion, with social media amplifying the conversation. In light of these developments, it has become evident that the government’s financial stance, citing a lack of funds for farmers, is receiving significant public scrutiny. Many are questioning whether the government can afford to settle Chintha’s dues while simultaneously asserting a shortage of funds for struggling farmers.