Thiruvananthapuram: The salaries of government employees in the state have been delayed for the first time in history. Today marks the fourth day of the new month, with employees now entering the third working day, excluding Sunday. Despite assurances from the Finance Department that salaries would be disbursed today, it seems impractical to fulfill this promise for the multitude of employees awaiting payment.
Initially attributed to technical issues on the first day of the delay, where the Finance Minister stated funds were stalled in transfer from the treasury to bank accounts, no specific obstacles were outlined. Experts point to the severe financial crisis gripping the state as the underlying cause.
With 2.75 lakh government employees expecting payment within the first three working days, it’s uncertain whether all can be accommodated today. There’s speculation that only those scheduled for the first working day may receive payment, while others might receive fixed withdrawals or installment payments, potentially extending salary disbursement until the 12th of the month.
Meanwhile, scrutiny has arisen as the Chief Minister and ministers received their salaries promptly on the first of the month. The Finance Department explains this disparity by citing the use of treasury savings bank accounts for officials, contrasting with the Employees Treasury Savings Bank (ETSB) accounts used by employees. Employees, however, contend that their accounts have been frozen due to insufficient funds.
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