Govt. decision to raise prisoners’ wage flayed

The National Janata Dal has criticised the State government for raising the wages of prisoners in Kerala’s jails. K.U. Irhsad, party district committee member, said here on Monday that the increase in jail wages could lead to a rise in crime in the State.

He said unemployment allowance in the State continued to be just ₹150 a month despite persistent price rise and joblessness. Mr. Irshad pointed out that with the government increasing the daily wage in jails from ₹63 to ₹560, a prisoner could earn as much as ₹16,800 a month.

He pointed out that councillors in panchayats and municipalities were receiving an honorarium of ₹8,600 a month. “Those in jail can now earn nearly double that of our people’s representatives,” Mr. Irshad said.

He said that various sections, including the differently abled, the elderly, widows, anganwadi workers, school mid-day meal workers and ASHAs, were receiving wages far lower than those paid to prisoners. Mr. Irshad said the government’s decision to raise prisoners’ wages at a time when ordinary people in the State were struggling to make ends meet would send a wrong message to society.