The issues were raised during the annual general body meeting of the HP Agriculture University Pensioners’ Sabha held at the university auditorium on Tuesday. Members highlighted a range of long-pending matters that have caused considerable hardship to retired employees.
Among the major grievances were the non-payment of retiral benefits, including leave encashment and commutation, pending payment of 15 months’ dearness allowance (DA) arrears, non-release of pension allowance on revised pensions, pending medical reimbursement claims, non-payment of pay revision arrears on the state government pattern and lifetime arrears that have remained unpaid for over four years.
Presiding over the meeting, sabha president Dr SP Sharma outlined the efforts made by the organisation during the past four months to resolve several pension-related issues. He informed members that around 600 revised pension payment orders (PPOs) had been secured, enhanced pension allowance for previous years had been sanctioned, and the process for issuing new identity cards to pensioners had been initiated to facilitate medical treatment benefits.
Dr Sharma also sought suggestions from members on effective strategies to pursue the large number of pending issues with the university administration and to safeguard the legitimate interests of pensioners.
The general body resolved that if the pending payments were not released within the next fortnight, the sabha would be compelled to launch an agitation against the university administration.
General Secretary Dr SK Upadhyay apprised members of the status of various court cases involving pensioners and informed the house that a welfare fund had been operationalised to provide assistance to pensioners facing emergencies.
The meeting unanimously resolved to continue pursuing all pending matters vigorously with the authorities concerned and urged the university administration to settle the grievances of pensioners at the earliest.
Treasurer Virender Katoch presented the financial accounts of the sabha, while vice-president Rajinder Singh welcomed members who had gathered from different districts of Himachal Pradesh and other states. Joint Secretary JP Thakur proposed the vote of thanks.
On the occasion, the sabha honoured its octogenarian members, Dr SK Bhalla and Dr BP Kaisha, for their contributions and association with the organisation.
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