Pensioners warn of statewide stir from November

Hundreds of pensioners from 18 government departments took to the streets in Dharamsala on Friday demanding immediate release of pending pension and other financial benefits.

The protesters, under the banner of the Himachal Pradesh Pensioners Joint Struggle Committee, gathered near the Martyrs’ Memorial and marched to Kachari Chowk, raising slogans against the state government.

Led by committee president Suresh Thakur, the pensioners warned that if their demands are not met soon, they would launch a statewide agitation from the first week of November. “This Diwali will be a dark one for many of us,” said Thakur, pointing out that several pensioners have not received their dues for the past two months.

The protesters later submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister through the district administration, holding the government responsible for any escalation of protests in the coming weeks. A committee meeting at the end of October will decide the next phase of the agitation.

The main demands of the pensioners include release of arrears for age-related allowances (at 65, 70, and 75 years) pending since 2014; payment of DA arrears held back since 2015; regular and timely pension disbursement on the first of every month, with a permanent mechanism in place; immediate settlement of pending medical reimbursement bills and payment of arrears of revised pay scales and retirement benefits (gratuity and leave encashment) as per the January 1, 2016, implementation by the government.

The other demands include pension parity for municipal and corporate sector retirees as per the 1999 notification and the January 1, 2016 pay scale.

“The government must act now,” Thakur said. “We have served the state all our lives — we will not rest until our rightful dues are secured.”