Silver jubilee celebration of government pensioners' association

Biswath Chariali, February 13: The Government Pensioners’ Association, Asom is a state level non-political and voluntary association, established on January 17, 1957 and registered in 1976-77 vide no.53/1976-77. It has 54 branches so far. The Government Pensioners’ Association Asom, Biswath Branch was established on October 13, 1990. It will celebrate its silver Jubilee February 15, 2015.

The leading founders undertook ceaseless effort and faced hardships and overcame various obstacles in establishing this association by approaching government as well as some prominent persons for fincial and other help, a press release stated. “The sapling they planted long ago has grown up to a big tree, under which we have been able to sit now and undertake various activities. Due to the immense farsightedness of the older pensioners, the Government Pensioners’ Association, Biswath Branch became an important non-political association which has been giving service and helping not only the pensioners and family pensioners but the society as well,” the functiories said.

The Government Pensioners’ Association, Asom, Biswath Branch has looked into the various grievances of the pensioners, family pensioners by taking up their individual and collective grievances with the government at different levels so that pensioners can live in society with dignity, getting legitimate dues and facilities from the government. It has rendered fincial help to the needy, bed-ridden pensioners and given them encouragement. The Government Pensioners’ Association, Biswath Branch has shared the vast experiences gathered by the pensioners during their service period with the society by elaborating various government rules, procedures and discipline.

As senior citizens are the torch bearers for the younger generation, the Association can hold symposiums, discussions inviting students of various institutions as well as younger people of the society to take part in it for discussing various topics regarding law and order, discipline and government procedures. The association can also undertake some public service by pursuing the matter of increasing medical allowances to pensioners to at least Rs.1000 per month, as cost of medicine and medical treatment is skyrocketing.

Ethnic violence and killing of innocent people and heinous crimes by extremists and miscreants have vitiated the environment in Assam. As a result, the affected people have to leave their houses and take shelter in other places in refugee camps etc. The pensioners’ association may also come forward to help these poor, distressed and homeless people. It is pleasing to learn that this association is going to take some steps in this line.