Pensioners allege denial of benefits

Itagar, Feb 22: The Aruchal Pradesh State Government Pensioners’ Association (APSGPA) has alleged that the State Government was not extending the legitimate pension benefits and medical allowances to the pensioners and family pensioners.

Informing that pension benefits granted to the pensioners and family pensioners by the State Government was on the basis of Centre’s order which was interim/provisiol in ture, the Association claimed that the Centre subsequently issued a fil order and the provisiol order got redundant, but unfortutely the State Government was showing apathy in implementing the fil order of the Centre.

“This is unethical and disgraceful too. It is evident and an established norm that the interim order cannot remain effective after issuance of fil order on the subject,” APSGPA said.

Various pensioners associations have appealed to the State Government for implementation of the Centre’s fil order but, according to the sources, the matter is kept under the carpet and gathering dust for months together, the pensioners’ body stated.

APSGPA said another issue pertaining to ‘grant of enhanced medical allowance’ to the pensioners and family pensioners has also been kept pending by the Government for almost a year or so.

“The pensioners at their old age are prone to various ailments and deserve some assistance from the Government. After due consideration, medical allowance has been enhanced to Rs 1000 per month by the 7th CPC and order issued by the Centre. Nevertheless, this allowance is being denied at some level by the government. The irony is that both the above benefits have been promptly extended to the AIS pensioners and family pensioners in the State,” stated Dr G Yomcha, president of APSGPA.