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| Pensioners’ DA releases, arrears still pending | | |
Early Times Report
JAMMU: Responding to rare of the rarest case in the history of Jammu and Kashmir pensioners in which a month earlier Chief Minister ordered release of Dearness Allowance (DA) for working employees from the month of July 2008 along-with arrears to be reimbursed in month of May, leaving pensioner aside, government finally ordered release of 7% DA for pensioners but keeping part of arrears still to be announced. Earlier, orders were being released almost on the same day and date for both working employees and pensioners but due to Model Code of Conduct cabinet meet could not be held which resulted in delaying release of DA and arrears for pensioners by a month.
Around 70,000 state government pensioners will be benefited by 7% hike from 47% to 54% from April 1st 2009. As per the order issued DA will be paid to pensioners by concerned Treasury officers, J and K Bank branches without waiting for the authorization from Account General or General Manager JK Bank as per the practice in vogue. Government also ordered release of pension/ family pension in terms of SRO 94 dated April 15th 2009 to pensioners with effect from July 1st 2009. However, order further reads that modalities of payment of pension arrears covering time period from January 1st 2006 to June 30th 2009 shall be notified separately. Delaying hike DA by month first and now issuing orders of arrears in two separate orders is not less than ordeal for pensioners.
Being a routine affair for employees and pensioners to witness the release of orders almost same day and day and by not finding themselves this time at par with employees, pensioners feel step motherly treatment by the government. Old aged pensioners neither having fire in belly nor strength in limbs to make pillar to post exercise of which government of state is habitual for addressing the problems of the common people. Pensioners could not even be a part of association or union which could raise their legitimate demands time to time.
I could not look and hear properly now but still the officers at the helm of affairs treat pensioners as step motherly, forgetting the fact that one day they all will also sail in the same boat” said Om Prakash Gupta (85) an retired official and added that most of pensioners are at the death beds and officers made them wait for hours together to collect their pension. Regarding delay in orders for arrears to pensioners Gupta termed it unfortunate, saying that it is ignorance towards the right to duties by the government and Chief Minister and Finance Minister should intervene personally and should take the cognizance to end the partially with immediate effect for the interest of senior citizens.
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