After waiting years for his journalist pension, senior journalist S Jayachandran Nair wrote an open letter to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stressing his disappointment and sadness. In his letter, Jayachandran — former editor of Malayala Rajyam, Kalakaumudi, and Samakalika Malayalam — stated that he began his journalistic career back in 1957 when EMS Namboothiripad and his party was trying hard to “establish a communist government through the ballot”. He further added that at the end of his journalist life that spanned for nearly 50 years, he had nothing in hand.
He wrote, “I thought the journalist welfare pension would help me. It’s been eight years now and I am still waiting for it, but I came to know that the then Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had dumped my pension application in the dustbin.” He further says that he sincerely hoped that the application would get approval when Pinarayi Vijayan became the chief minister in 2016. However, nothing changed. “I am done and I no longer wish to wait for your favour. Lal Salam,” Jayachandran says, ending his letter.
Meanwhile, socio-political observer Dr Azad criticises the Pinarayi government for neglecting Jayachandran Nair’s request. In a Facebook post, he wrote, “It is learned that the CM’s office is trying to finding technical hurdles to grant S Jayachandran Nair the journalist’s pension. If that is true, it is extremely sad and reprehensible.”
He adds that Kerala has brought shame to itself by denying Jayachandran Nair the pension, as a cultural Kerala demands it.
