Concern of youth to be taken into account

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:  Finance Minister K M Mani has said that the concern of youth will also be taken into account while taking a final decision on raising the pension age.Mani told reporters here on Friday that the State Government had not yet taken any decision on the issue. He said that any decision on raising the pension age would be taken by the Cabinet after holding discussions with all concerned.The Cabinet sub-committee which held consultations with the service organisations on the issue had placed the opinions of the meeting in front of the Cabinet. The opinion that came up at the meeting was that of the service organisations and not of government.If the government takes a decision on raising the pension age it will be implemented only after ensuring alternative job prospects for the youth. He said that all service organisations supporting both the ruling front and opposition were in favour of rising the pension age. Mani also distributed the first insurance benefit of Rs 8 lakh under the Group Personal Accident Insurance Scheme of the State Insurance Department to M I Veena, daughter of K S Muralikumar of the United Electrical Company, Kollam.The insurance scheme would cover various public sector units under the State Government such as the Kerala State Electricity Board and KSRTC. Around 1,10,000 employees of the above organisations can become members of the scheme by paying a premium of Rs 100.