Key Demands Raised at Pensioners' Meeting
A meeting of the Himachal Pensioners Sangh Block Gagret was held on Sunday at Daulatpur Chowk in Una district, chaired by Block President Ram Pal Sharma. The gathering discussed various pending issues related to pensioners and passed several resolutions demanding immediate action from the state government.
Pending DA Arrears and Medical Bills
The pensioners urged the government to release the pending dearness allowance (DA) instalments from July 2023 to January 2026 at the earliest. They also demanded priority clearance of long-pending medical reimbursement claims and medical bills.
Additional Pension for Senior Citizens
The association demanded that pensioners who have attained the ages of 70, 75, and beyond should be provided the additional pension of 5%, 10%, and 15% respectively without any delay, as per existing rules. Furthermore, cases of employees and pensioners who have completed 20 years of regular service should also be resolved promptly.
Concern Over Digital-Only Life Certificate Submission
The meeting expressed serious concern over the state government's directive to submit life certificates only through digital mode. Speakers pointed out that most senior citizens are not well-versed with digital technology, causing them unnecessary hardship. The Sangh appealed to the government to restore the facility of submitting life certificates offline, as was the practice earlier.
Meeting Attendees
The meeting was attended by Chief Press Secretary Satdev Parashar, State General Secretary Omaraj Kanwar, Kripal Singh Dadwal, Pirthi Chand Ratan, Raghuvir Singh, Kailash Kumar, Suresh Bhardwaj, Tarsem Singh, Harbans Singh, and Jeet Singh.
FAQ
What were the main demands raised by pensioners in Una?
The pensioners demanded payment of pending DA arrears from July 2023 to January 2026, clearance of medical reimbursement bills, additional pension for those aged 70 and above, and restoration of offline life certificate submission facility.
Why do pensioners want offline life certificates?
Most senior citizens are not familiar with digital technology, making it difficult for them to submit life certificates online. They want the option to submit physical certificates as before.
Who attended the meeting of Himachal Pensioners Sangh in Una?
The meeting was chaired by Block President Ram Pal Sharma and attended by Satdev Parashar, Omaraj Kanwar, Kripal Singh Dadwal, Pirthi Chand Ratan, Raghuvir Singh, Kailash Kumar, Suresh Bhardwaj, Tarsem Singh, Harbans Singh, and Jeet Singh.