Before walking out, opposition leader V S Achuthanandan warned the government that it would have to face stiff resistance from the people, especially youths, if the proposal to raise the superannuation age from 56 to 60 and contributory pension scheme for future employees were introduced.
However, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Finance Minister K M Mani said it was high time that the state introduced contributory pension and raise retirement age.
Chandy said Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura were the only states where contributory pension scheme was not introduced.
He said 5.34 lakh government employees draw salary while 5.50 lakh gets pension, which clearly showed that number of persons who gets pension was more than those presently employed.
The average service period of a government staff was 25 to 30 years while the average period of retired persons getting pension was 30 to 35 years, he said.
Seeking leave for an adjournment on the issue based on a statement by Mani yesterday that state would have to go for contributory pension and increase retirement age, CPI(M) member Sreeramakrishnan said increasing pension age would adversely affect lakhs of youths waiting to get government jobs.
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Mani said he had only put forward a suggestion for academic debate in view of state's financial position.
More than 75 per cent of state's revenue income goes for paying salaries, interest and pension leaving a meagre fund with the government for taking up development activities, he said.
However, he said even if government takes a decision on the matter, it should be done only after taking the youths into confidence and holding discussions with all concerned.
Youth Congress in the state had also expressed its reservation on the government's move.