The state will introduce contributory pension scheme for new entrants in government service from next year. The finance department has issued orders to this effect.
As per the scheme, new employees will have to contribute a fixed sum every month while an equal or a scaled up amount would be put in by the state government.
Chief minister Oommen Chandy told the media that the scheme would come into effect from 2013. “Barring West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura, all states have already implemented the scheme.
The new scheme will not have any impact on the pension scheme for the existing government staff,”' he said, adding that the government would not be benefiting much from the new scheme.
He said no decision had been taken on raising the pension age. “We have to evolve a consensus on the issue and I have already stated that the youth will be taken into confidence before taking a decision,’’ he said.
The decision is seen in the context of the increasing financial burden on account of disbursement of heavy amounts as pension to government staff post retirement.
As per estimates, there are about 5.50 lakh pensioners, as against the existing staff strength of 5.34 lakh.
With the retirement age in the state being the lowest in the country, the government is toying with the idea to raise it from 56 years to 60.
However, stiff opposition from youth organisations has forced the government to put the proposal on hold for the moment.