State pensioners seek pending dues, cashless medical facilities

Leaders and members of the Punjab State Pensioners Association have warned that the non-acceptance of pensioners’ and employees’ demands could prove costly for the Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab Government. A large gathering of pensioners was held at Ram Bagh Gardens under the leadership of Madan Gopal.

The participants raised anti-government slogans, cautioning the state administration to address their long-pending and genuine demands immediately.

General secretary Madan Lal Manan outlined the pensioners’ demand charter, pending for over five years. He said that despite several memorandums and meetings with the finance minister, the government has yet to release the due dearness allowance (DA) instalments. Currently, state government pensioners and employees are receiving 42 per cent DA, while their central government counterparts are paid 58 per cent—a 16 per cent gap he described as “step-motherly treatment.” The shortfall has caused significant economic hardship for senior citizens. He urged the Chief Minister and Finance Minister to act swiftly.

Kartar Singh and principal Sohan Lal emphasised the urgent need for cashless medical facilities, as many elderly pensioners cannot afford hospital expenses.

Ramesh Bhanot, Sukhdev Raj Kalia, and Satnam Singh Pakharpura stressed the implementation of the government-notified Old Pension Scheme. Baldev Singh Sandhu and Yashdev Dogra called for the acceptance of a 2.59 multiplication factor in the implementation of pay commission rules. Vasdev Sharma and Kanwaljit Singh urged an increase in the death-cum-gratuity amount from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 25 lakh.