Mass retirement poses fresh challenges

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: For the first time in the history of the State, as many as 22,400 employees retired from government service on Wednesday following the State governments decision to make March 31 the common retirement date.

Prior to this, employees retired from service on attainment of 55 years. The employees could continue in service till the end of that month if their date of birth was not the first of any month. Only those whose date of birth was the first of any month had to retire the previous day. Under the new decision, all those who attained 55 years anytime during the financial year could continue in service till March 31. Some of the employees managed to get nearly a years extension, while some others got a lesser period..

In the past also, teachers who attained 55 years anytime during the academic year were allowed to continue in service till the end of the academic year in order to avoid any dislocation in the academic sector