Accept our long-pending demands, say pensioners

Office-bearers and activists of various outfits working for rights of pensioners from various departments urged senior functionaries in the Union and Punjab Governments to accept their long-pending issues, so that they could lead a dignified life.

While pension updation, liberalisation of policies on health insurance and consideration of policies on a par with the Reserve Bank of India were cited as major demands of the bank retirees, other pensioners urged the authorities to implement recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission in letter and spirit without further delay.

Mehar Chand Shastri, an office-bearer of the Government Employees Pensioners Union regretted that successive governments at the Centre and state had failed to recognise contributions and sacrifices of pensioners who had ceaselessly toiled for the employers on an assurance that in their old age they would not be left in the lurch.

“Despite our repeated efforts to convince employees working in various offices, we have failed to make them comprehend that pension is our constitutional right and not a bounty,” said Sharma while addressing a meeting held on occasion of the National Pensioners’ Day.

Satish Jain, a former official of the State Bank of India, said activists and office-bearers of All Banks Retirees Forum led by president Kewal Krishan Bansal had reiterated their earlier demands to expedite the related process. A district-level function of Punjab Police Pensioners’ Welfare Association was held at Malerkotla. Bahadur Singh chaired the function and SSP Gagan Ajit Singh was the chief guest.

Recognising contribution and sacrifices of former police personnel, the SSP said the rank and file in the department had been advised to accord special respect to pensioners whenever they visit their offices.

“We have updated our personnel about the importance of the National Pensioners’ Day,” said Singh, reminding that it was on this day in 1982 that the Supreme Court delivered a landmark judgment guaranteeing dignity and decency to all retired officials and pensioners.

“Pension is neither a bounty, nor a matter of grace depending upon the sweet will of the employer, and not an ex-gratia payment. It is a payment for the past services rendered and a social welfare measure rendering socio-economic justice to those who in the heyday of their life ceaselessly toiled for the employer on an assurance that in their old age they would not be left in the lurch,” Singh quoted an excerpt from the judgment given by late Justice Y V Chandrachud, then Chief Justice, Supreme Court, in the famous DK Nakara pension case on December 17, 1982.