Pensioners in Himachal Pradesh have announced a series of protests over the prolonged delay in settling their pending financial benefits. Pensioners' organisations have decided to stage demonstrations at district headquarters from November 12 to 17 and gherao the state Assembly in Dharamshala on November 19.
The dispute between pensioners and the Himachal Pradesh government over outstanding payments has intensified, with retired employees deciding to launch a statewide agitation after waiting for their financial dues for an extended period.
The Himachal Pradesh Pensioners Joint Struggle Committee has announced protests across the state from November 12. The committee said the government had already been informed of its demands, but no concrete action had been taken so far.
Under the protest programme announced by the Himachal Pradesh Pensioners Joint Struggle Committee, symbolic sit-in demonstrations will be held at district headquarters across the state between November 12 and 17.
The next phase of the agitation will take place on November 19, when pensioners plan to protest outside the state Assembly in Dharamshala during its winter session.
According to the committee, more than 10,000 pensioners from across Himachal Pradesh could participate in the Assembly gherao. The organisation has appealed to retired employees in all districts to join the agitation.
Pensioners' organisations said the protest was aimed not only at securing outstanding payments but also at ensuring that retired employees receive their financial entitlements on time.
Committee state president Suresh Thakur, general secretary Inder Pal Sharma and additional general secretary Bhu Ram Verma issued a joint statement expressing dissatisfaction with the government's response.
According to the committee's office-bearers, the government had previously been given a 15-day ultimatum to fulfil the demands. However, representatives of the organisation were neither invited for discussions nor informed of any decision regarding the payment of outstanding financial liabilities.
Pensioner leaders alleged that the government was not taking their problems seriously. They said continued delays in payments were creating financial difficulties for elderly pensioners.
One of the committee's principal demands is the settlement of outstanding financial benefits for employees who retired between January 1, 2016, and January 31, 2022.
According to the committee, several employees who retired during this period have not received their full entitlements, including revised leave encashment, gratuity, pension arrears and commutation payments.
The organisations have also demanded the release of pending 13% Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR). Delays in the settlement of medical bills have also become a source of dissatisfaction among pensioners.
The committee said employees who retired after February 2022 were receiving other financial benefits, excluding pension arrears, while those who retired before that period were still waiting for their outstanding payments.
The state government released a five percentage point instalment of Dearness Allowance for employees and pensioners before Diwali. However, pensioners' organisations said orders for the payment of the corresponding arrears had not yet been issued.
Committee state president Suresh Thakur alleged that the government was continuing to withhold pensioners' financial dues, increasing financial and mental pressure on retired employees.
The organisation has demanded that the government issue clear orders regarding outstanding payments so that pensioners do not have to repeatedly resort to protests to secure their entitlements.
The agitation also includes demands concerning pensioners of the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC).
The committee has sought the release of 8% Dearness Relief for retired HRTC employees and an instalment of Rs 50,000 under the Sixth Pay Commission.
Other demands include the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme in the electricity board and the extension of pension benefits to pensioners in the corporate sector through the reimplementation of the 1999 notification.
The committee has also demanded that cases concerning urban local body pensioners related to January 1, 2016, be settled within 15 days.
In addition, it has called for retired police personnel to receive access to canteen facilities and cashless medical treatment.
Pensioners' organisations have stated that the agitation will continue until the outstanding financial liabilities are settled. The committee has urged the government to initiate discussions at the earliest and take decisions on all pending financial demands.
The proposed Assembly gherao in Dharamshala on November 19 is the next major event in the protest programme announced by the pensioners' organisations.
