The courtyards of cashew factories in Kollam witnessed rare, emotional scenes as hundreds of workers gathered to bid a tearful farewell to S. Jayamohan, the outgoing chairperson of the Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation (KSCDC). After a decade-long tenure marked by a remarkable turnaround of the crisis-ridden public sector undertaking (PSU), Mr. Jayamohan stepped down amid heartfelt appreciation of the labour force.
The transformation he led is being hailed as a commendable comeback story. When Mr. Jayamohan first assumed office ten years ago, he wasn’t greeted with bouquets, but by recovery officers arriving to attach the headquarters’ property. At that time, the corporation was buried under a staggering debt of ₹180 crore, factories were overgrown with weeds, and the workers were left jobless. Over the next decade, through grit and policy intervention, he navigated the institution out of its darkest phase.
Today, the KSCDC stands with its debts cleared and long-standing PF and ESI arrears settled. During this period the corporation implemented significant wage hikes and modernised its processing units. Notably, he oversaw the distribution of ₹82 crore in gratuity, clearing three years of backlogs. Talking about his tenure, Mr. Jayamohan noted that his proudest achievements weren’t just financial. “A total of 16 children of cashew laborers secured MBBS admissions during this time and the daughter of a factory worker became a pilot for the Kochi Metro. I took charge when the factories were shut and silent. To step down today, while the machines are humming and the workers have steady employment, is the greatest satisfaction of my life,” he said.
He was accompanied by M. Naushad, MLA, and other board members of the KSCDC.
Published – March 14, 2026 09:15 pm IST
