Employees Protest Against Unjust Transfers Allegedly Driving Workers to Suicide and Premature Death

Thiruvananthapuram: Protests by government employees against unjust transfers that are allegedly pushing workers to the brink of suicide and even death intensified in Keralam. A protest march to the Secretariat organised under the leadership of FSETO was attended by a large number of employees and teachers. Leader of the Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the march in front of the Secretariat.

Pinarayi alleged that the UDF government was transferring employees arbitrarily without following established norms. He said health inspector Deepalekha, who collapsed and died, was a victim of an unjust transfer.

After the LDF government came to power in 2016, clear criteria for transfers were formulated in 2017 with the approval of all organisations, and an order was issued. General transfers have been carried out every year in accordance with these criteria, including through an online transfer system. Pinarayi alleged that the current government had abandoned this system and was now transferring tens of thousands of employees unjustly and arbitrarily.

Health inspector Deepalekha was a victim of this practice, he said. Deepalekha was transferred several times. When she was transferred again, she raised concerns including her physical difficulties, but her requests were not considered. Pinarayi said she collapsed and died amid the mental distress caused by the situation and described her death as one resulting from the transfer. Dr Radhamani of Pariyaram Medical College was another example, he said.

Pinarayi said the UDF was using transfers to demonstrate the arrogance of those in power and authority.

The FSETO-led protest march was organised with demands to end the state government’s unjust and rule-violating practices that are pushing employees towards suicide and premature death, and to stop the government’s transfer practices.

Two employees died on consecutive days after suffering the impact of being transferred without following established norms. Even employees belonging to categories deserving special consideration are being transferred in an inhumane manner and harassed.

Since the UDF government came to power, employees were being transferred indiscriminately in violation of the existing criteria. The Chief Minister himself had come out in support of the unjust transfers.

The protest demanded an end to the practice of transferring employees unjustly and pushing them towards death, as well as strict action against those responsible for the deaths of Ashalatha and Deepalekha.