Panchayat pensioners union members stage protest in Mohali

Panchayati Raj Pensioners Union, Punjab, member from Panchayat Samitis, and Zila Parishad today staged a protest outside the office of the Department of Rural development and Panchayats Director at Vikas Bhawan, Phase 8. Scores of senior citizens, both men and women, sat on the road and raised slogans demanding pensions as per the sixth pay commission scale and release of dues.

They later handed a memorandum to the director and joint director Jatinder Singh Brar who assured them of looking into their demands.

The protesters condemned the government and blamed the bureaucracy for delaying their long-pending demands.

“The protesters demanded that their pension for the month of January should be according to the sixth pay commission and the outstanding dues from July 21 be paid immediately,” said Balwinder Singh.

Among the main demands of the pensioners were that their senior citizen allowances and LTC be paid alike with other pensioners; 4% DA be paid from November 24, and deadline be fixed for starting pension and family pension.