Kerala State Road Transport Corporation pension woes claim another life

KOCHI: The cash-strapped Kerala State Road Transport Corporation’s inability to provide timely pension to nearly 38, 000 ex-employees has claimed another life. V. V. Roy, 59, who retired as the station master from Ernakulam Boat Jetty stand three years ago and a resident of Puthuvype, was asked by doctors to undergo immediate surgery six months ago after they detected a blocked artery in his heart.

However, he could then barely manage expenses for treating his kidney-related issues and didn’t know how to meet the cost of coronary artery bypass surgery. He was yet to get the retirement benefits and also pension dues for five months. The man who had put in 34 years of service died of heart attack on Monday at his residence. “He was running from pillar to post to arrange the money but without any success," his cousin Muraleedharan told DC.

"Since he was a government employee and belonged to the Above Poverty Line (APL) category, he could also not avail government-run health insurance schemes such as RSBY despite repeated attempts. The expense for his daughter’s education was another worry. Maybe the pressure might have had worsened his health.”

He also couldn’t complete construction of his small concrete house, and for his wife Bindu, it’s now a herculean task to continue their daughter’s studies unless the corporation provides his pending gratuity and other retirement benefits. While his elder daughter was married off, the younger one is a Plus-Two student. “His neighbours helped him with the construction of the small house. He was loved by all as he intervened in their common issues including moving the court for bus connectivity and the strike against LPG terminal,” he said.