Congress opposes proposal to enhance retirement age
Monday, 06/08/2012
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A day after the much-awaited meeting of Punjab Council of Ministers was deferred to take this decision, the Punjab Congress on Sunday strongly opposed the Akali-BJP government’s proposal to enhance the retirement age of its employees from 58 to 60 years saying it will only add to the serious unemployment problem in the state.
Reacting sharply to the proposal, the Punjab Congress general secretary and Dhuri MLA Arvind Khanna said it was shocking to learn that the state government instead of addressing the unemployment problem was further complicating it by virtually barring the entry of the educated youth in the government sector for another two years.
Khanna pointed out, “Enhancing the retirement age by two years means no vacancies for another two years”. He said it would demoralise the educated youth, particularly those who are about to cross the maximum age limit for government employment. He said there were already 45 lakh unemployed people in the state and this step will further add to their numbers and frustration.
The Congress general secretary asked the government to be more kind and considerate towards the educated unemployed youth in the state. On the one hand, there is no investment in private sector hence no jobs and the only job avenue is the government sector which also this government is going to shut for two years.
The Dhuri MLA also questioned the claims of the government that it will save the exchequer Rs 1,000 crore annually. “Even if it does, which does not appear to be so, it amounts to robbing Peter to pay Paul”, he remarked while cautioning the government against blocking the employment avenue for the educated unemployed youth for two years.
