Ganderbal, June 23: Dozens of elderly retired government employees under the banner of the Jammu and Kashmir Pensioners United Front staged a peaceful protest outside the Mini Secretariat in Ganderbal on Monday, urging the Government to fulfil their long-pending demands. The demonstrators demanded restoration of benefits under the 8th Pay Commission, a hike in the meagre medical allowance, and timely disbursement of retirement dues.
Holding placards and raising slogans, the pensioners — many of whom had served the government for over three decades — expressed deep anguish over what they termed as “systematic neglect” by the authorities’ post-retirement. Leading the protest, Nazir Ahmad, District President of the Pensioners United Front, called for the immediate implementation of the 8th Pay Commission benefits. “The current medical allowance of Rs 300 is a joke. It doesn’t even cover basic consultation charges. We urge the government to increase it to at least Rs 1,000,” he said.
The pensioners also demanded the introduction of an additional 5 percent pension benefit for every five years after the age of 65, a provision already in place in several other states and Union Territories including Ladakh. “We are not asking for charity but for parity,” a protestor said.
A retired schoolteacher present at the protest said: “After giving our lives to public service, we are now made to fight for basic survival. These demands are about dignity, not luxury.” Highlighting the gravity of the situation, senior pensioner Haji Ghulam Hassan said many retirees have not received their General Provident Fund (GPF), commutation, or other dues for more than two years. “All required paperwork is complete and available with the treasuries, yet the funds are not being released. Some are facing starvation,” he said. The protestors made a heartfelt appeal to both Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to personally look into the matter.
