Kerala minister justifies expensive reading glasses bought at tax-payers’ expense in the time of financial crisis

The minister said she opted for the pricey pair of glasses since spends several hours reading and surfing the internet.

‘Not the only one’

Bindu claimed on Thursday, 9 November, that she was not the only one who had purchased glasses at government expense.

Opposition MLAs Mathew Kuzhalnadan (₹27,700), Eldhose Kunnappilly (₹35,842), TJ Vinod (31,600), Manjalamkuzhi Ali (₹29,400), Abid Hussain Thangal (₹26,800) and P Ubaidulla (₹25,950), too, had availed the facility that allows reimbursement for reading glasses for MLAs, she said.

The government has set a ceiling of ₹5,000 for the frames of reading glasses, but there is no set limit for the lens.

The minister said she was compelled to name the MLAs who had availed the government facility for free reading glasses since the Opposition has been holding protests against her for getting reimbursed.

The Mahila Congress held a protest rally in front of the state Secretariat holding a model of a huge reading glasses on Monday. The minister said the Mahila Congress negatively handled the issue.

Related: What do CPI(M) leaders Bindu, KK Shailaja have in common?

Dramatic scenes

A group of KSU workers, including women, stormed the minister’s news conference at the Annexe-II of the Secretariat. Security personnel and the minister’s staff kept them away from the dais. They were later shifted out of the conference hall.

Kerala Higher Education Minister R Bindu. (Sourced)

The KSU workers were protesting against the alleged sabotage of the Kerala Varma College Students’ Union election, which it initially won, but eventually lost when the votes were recounted amidst a power outage.

Bindu took a dig at the KSU, saying it had a history of being born out of the liberation struggle to overthrow the Communist government that assumed power after the formation of Kerala.

It lacked the ability to see things in the true sense, the minister said, adding that she had no role in the students’ union election.

The minister’s reading glasses became a talking point in Kerala as it came amidst criticism of the government splurging on Keraleeyam, a weeklong celebration of the state’s formation day, even as Kerala was reeling under a grave financial crisis.

Related: Cash-strapped Kerala’s Formation Day gala

Welfare pensions hit

Deposing before the High Court of Kerala in a contempt of court case related to the delay in paying the salaries of KSRTC employees, Chief Secretary Dr DV Venu pointed out the financial crisis.

The crisis even affected the disbursement of welfare pensions, and the Raj Bhavan, as the government could not provide funds to refuel vehicles and to purchase kitchen essentials, reports said.

Welfare pensions have been stalled since July, and the Cabinet, on Wednesday, decided to distribute one month’s pension.

At least two ministers reportedly informed the Cabinet meeting that their departments — Civil Supplies and General Education — could not function further until the dues were cleared. The midday meals for school students, too, have been hit due to the paucity of funds.

A group of Kudumbashree workers running the Janakeeya hotels in Malappuram even staged a protest outside the Secretariat, demanding the government clear their dues of  ₹6 crore. Janakeeya hotels provide meals at subsidised rates, as part of the hunger-free Kerala programme.

It was under these circumstances that the government ordered the reimbursement for Bindu’s reading glasses.