Pensioners sore over govt attitude

Aggrieved retired employees demand implementation of PRC recommendations

There are over 1.50 lakh retired employees in Telangana State. The government has sanctioned an increment to the employees for taking part in the movement for the statehood. But the benefit was not extended to those who retired before the government granted an increment, the pensioners said.

Hyderabad: Pensioners are up in arms against the Telangana State government for not implementing some of the recommendations of the 10th Pay Revision Commission. The pensioners allege that the Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao has even declined to meet them. There are over 1.50 lakh retired employees in Telangana State.

The government has sanctioned an increment to the employees for taking part in the movement for the statehood. But the benefit was not extended to those who retired before the government granted an increment, the pensioners said. The pensioners stated that the health cards issued by the government were not being accepted by corporate hospitals and the medical allowance of Rs 350 was inadequate to meet the medical expenses.

A consultant in private hospital charges anything between Rs 400 and Rs 500. They demanded that the medical allowance be hiked to Rs 1,000. The pensioners said that 10th PRC had recommended an additional 15 per cent pension after the pensioner attained the age of 70 years to help them meet additional medical expenses.

The pensioners also demanded that pension benefits be modified to ensure “one rank one pension” as it was in Army. Narahari, Secretary, all Pensioners and retired Persons Association, appealed to the government to grant concessions for senior citizens in TSRTC buses as is the case with he Railways. Speaking to The Hans India, Narahari said the pensioners and retired persons would launch a Maha Dharna on September 29 at Indira Park.