Pensioners stage dharna, push for fulfilment of demands

The pensioners’ association associated with the power/transmission corporation organised a dharna in front of the circle office of Powercom here on Tuesday. They laid stress on the fulfilment of demands of the retired employees.

The retired staff of the corporation, who came from different parts of the town, also participated in the dharna.

Gurpreet Singh Mannan, circle president of the association, in his address condemned the state government for cancelling the proposed meetings to be held with them at the eleventh hour. Expressing solidarity with the flood-affected farmers and others related to the farming, he said the compensation of Rs 20,000 per acre, announced by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, was not sufficient and demanded to increase it to Rs 50,000 per acre and also provide adequate compensation to farm labourers.

Mannan laid stress on the removal of the discrepancies in the Sixth Pay Commission, besides providing free power to the pensioners, reinstatement of the cashless medical facility, increasing the monthly medical allowance to Rs 2,000, reimbursement of the pending instalments of the dearness allowance. The circle president pushed for fulfilment of other demands of the pensioners and condemned the management of the department for its alleged indifferent approach towards the current demands of the retired employees.