Bangalore: The silent protest by Bharatiya Janata Party MLA and former minister Suresh Kumar in front of the top-ranking official of the Industries Department on Monday October 13 has been fruitful.

As per his urge during the protest the government has agreed and assured him of implementing his demand for providing the benefit of increase in retirement age from 58 to 60 years to the employees of the Government Tool Room and Training Centre (GT&TC).

As the government ignored the given deadline to provide the benefit of extension in retirement age to the GT&TC employees by October 10, Kumar observed a dharna in front of the office of the Additional Chief Secretary to the Industries and Commerce Department, Ratnaprabha, at the Vikasa Soudha.

Soon after Kumar began his protest, some of the higher officials of the Industries Department including the GT&TC Managing Director Halaswamy met him and explained to him that they had now got a positive legal opinion from the Law Department for providing extension in retirement age to GT&TC staff.

They had forwarded the files in this regard to the Departments of Finance and Personnel Administrative Reforms. The retirement age extension would be provided to the GT&TC staff as soon as these departments provide their clearance, the officials assured.

They also issued an order putting on hold the retirement of two employees of the GT&TC at the age of 58. These employees were supposed to retire on Monday. Contented by the declaration given by the officials, Kumar withdrew his dharna.