Kochi: The five-lakh strong state government employees should voluntarily surrender their Onam festival allowance in view of the monsoon disaster gripping the state, says N.S. Alexander, a former drug controller and pensioner. In a statement Alexander, who is also an RTI activist, said that he had given his monthly pension for flood relief operations.
The government employees in the state have the financial stability to pass through Onam celebration without the festival allowance of Rs 4,000. The amount however will be of great help to the government needing immediate resources to undertake flood relief operations, he said. The government staff foregoing the festival allowance alone would provide a Rs 2,000 crore to the state exchequer at this moment of crisis.
The MLAs, MPs and other representatives of the people including the ministers should provide their one month salary for flood relief operations, he said. He also said that the government staff and staff members in the public sector undertakings, cooperative banks should also come forward to make substantial contributions for flood relief.
Out of 365 days in a year the government staff enjoys paid holiday of 135 days and they should earmark a portion of that income for such public good. It would a one-time effort on the part of them, he added. He said had raised the matter with some of the leaders of the government staff unions.
