Here are three factors that hint that the Kerala government's 'salary challenge', aimed at mopping up around Rs 3,800 crore to rebuild the flood-ravaged state, has not evoked the kind of response the government was hoping for.
First, the government has extended the the challenge — those who had said 'no' by the original deadline of September 22 have now been given time to withdraw their 'declaration of unwillingness'.
Second, the state government has officially decided not to make public the exact number of those who had taken up the challenge — this is surprising because the government had already put out the figures for secretariat employees where there is an overwhelming support for the 'salary challenge'.
Three, Kerala police chief Loknath Behera had convened a video conference of top police officials two days before to express his concern at the poor response to the challenge from the force. In fact, Thrissur range IG M R Ajith Kumar had even convened a meeting of the police ministerial staff in the district who had refused to part with their one month's salary.
The Congress-affiliated State Employees' and Teachers' Association has cited the IG's intervention as proof of the intimidatory tactics the government was employing to make people withdraw their 'declaration of unwillingness'. Ajith Kumar said he just wanted to know the reasons for the refusal. “I was personally shocked when the DGP told us that only about 30 per cent of police department personnel had taken up the challenge. I am of the view that a government employee, including myself, is morally obliged to contribute,” Ajith Kumar said.
Top cop's rescue mission
The IG asked the 25 ministerial staff who had gathered before him the reasons for their refusal. One said he had contributed Rs 50,000 towards the treatment of a friend. Besides, he had also contributed Rs 10,000 to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund even before the government had asked. Another said he had used up all his provident fund. Yet another said he had no more leave to surrender. Then, there was an employee who had got into the force by way of the 'dying in harness scheme'. “He said he was unwilling because he was the sole breadwinner for the family,” Ajith Kumar said.
Nonetheless, the IG said he was not convinced. “Except for one, I don't think anyone had a valid reason not to contribute,” he said. Ajith Kumar said he also wanted to convey to his higher-ups the problems faced by the personnel, and suggest ways to cushion their problems. “I then suggested that the police society grant employees an interest-free loan for the contribution they make,” he said. CPM-affiliated unions, too, have mooted such an interest-free loan arrangement.
The IG also said there was no intimidation involved. “What I told the staff in the end was that they should consider this meeting to have never taken place,” Ajith Kumar said. Finance minister Thomas Isaac, who had earlier spoken of “democratic pressure” on those refusing to contribute, too ruled out any form of intimidation. “Do you think in Kerala's context it would be easy to make employees fall in line by issuing threats,” he asked.
Plight of two employees
However, Congress-affiliated SETO points out two cases. Anil Raj's was the cause celebre. He was shifted out of the finance department after his WhatsApp message that expressed his inability to take part in the challenge did the rounds. He had said his government employee wife would however contribute. “He was reinstated, but only after he publicly apologised and agreed to contribute,” said N K Benny, SETO chairman.
On September 13, Prakash V P, the workshop superintendent of Neyyatinkara Government Polytechnic College was suspended. “It was for a Facebook post I had put out on August 12, before the floods turned severe. Someone had written on FB that we should donate our festival allowance. Given that we had not received two DA instalments, I said I would not,” Prakash V P said. Government sources maintain that Prakash was suspended for his posts criticising chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. “There are many employees who had put up posts against the salary challenge. Has the government initiated action against any of them,” a top finance department source said. Prakash has now gone to court against his suspension. SETO chairman Benny also alleged that disbursal and drawing officers in many departments were now refusing to accept the 'declaration of unwillingness' from employees.
However, despite the controversies, the finance department is confident of mopping up at least Rs 2,000 crore from the 'salary challenge'. (The original target was Rs 3,800 crore.) The government has also conceded that response of school teachers, especially aided school teachers, was poor. The SETO says only 30 per cent of teachers have taken part in the challenge. Finance fepartment sources, however, said 70-75 per cent school teachers would join the challenge by the end of the month. The government is hoping that teachers will withdraw their 'declaration of unwillingness' by then.
Where are the numbers?
The state government has also decided not to put out the exact numbers of those who had taken up the challenge. “If the government asks department heads to give names, it can put pressure on employees. So we have decided against it,” a top finance department official said. Irony is, they have put out the official 'salary challenge' data for secretariat employees. It shows 84.60 per cent of the 4,525 secretariat employees have taken part in the challenge.
