Pensioners demand DA arrears, reimbursement of medical bills

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 10

To discuss their demands, pensioners of the state government held a meeting at Company Bagh here on Tuesday.

They alleged that pending medical, gratuity, pension and leave encashment bills were not cleared by the district treasury officer.

Education Department’s pensioner Harjit Kaur said she was still awaiting reimbursement of medical expenses of her May 28 cataract surgery. The pensioners raised slogans against the government for its alleged anti-employees policies.

Madan Gopal, president, Punjab State Pensioners’ and Senior Citizens Welfare Association, said, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal were not releasing pending dearness allowance installments of retired employees. They also demanded a hike in medical allowance from the existing Rs 500 to 2,000, introduction of cashless health insurance scheme and implementation of old-pension scheme.

The pensioners’ body also decided that they would hold a protest against the state government on December 17, the nation pensioners’ day. The association would honour senior pensioners aged 80 years and above.

Association general secretary Rattan Singh, Madan Lal Mannan, Yashdev Dogra, Baldev Singh Sandhu, Sohan Lal, Sukhdev Raj Kalia, Kartar Singh and Braham Dev were among the prominent pensioners attended the protest.