Himachal pensioners hit streets across state over delayed pension, pending dues

SHIMLA:After Himachal Pradesh government employees expressed their dissatisfaction over the non-payment of dearness allowance (DA) and arrears, pensioners have now launched a statewide protest against the Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu regime’s failure to pay their dues on time.

The protests, organised by the Himachal Pradesh Pensioners Welfare Association, are taking place at all district headquarters on Friday (September 20, 2024), where retired employees will submit memorandums to Chief Minister Sukhu through the respective Deputy Commissioners (DCs).

The pensioners are particularly aggrieved over the delayed crediting of their pensions on September 10 this month, which they argue should be paid on the first day of each month. “We demand that pensions be deposited on the first of every month,” said Inder Kanwar, a pensioner. “The government’s failure to do so is unacceptable and it has forced us to take to the streets.”

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Demand disbursal of DA, medical bills too

The pensioners’ grievances do not end with delayed pensions. They are also angry about the government’s failure to disburse three pending installments of DA, totaling 12 per cent, as well as the non-payment of revised arrears from the Sixth Pay Commission, which has been pending since 2016. Medical bills, too, have been left unpaid, adding to the financial burden faced by retirees. He said employees who retired between January 2016 and December 2021 have yet to receive the full benefits of their pension entitlements.

Had sought dialogue, but govt didn’t relent

On September 17, the Shimla unit of the Pensioners Welfare Association held a meeting where it was decided to intensify their agitation by protesting at district headquarters across the state on September 20. Despite submitting a memorandum to the Chief Minister on August 23, requesting a dialogue by September 15, the pensioners were not called for discussions, prompting today’s widespread demonstrations.

The protests come at a time when the Himachal Pradesh government is already facing backlash from other quarters. Lakhs of government employees remain dissatisfied due to the non-payment of DA and arrears, further compounding the challenges faced by the Sukhu administration. The government’s efforts to improve the state’s financial health, which include rolling back some free facilities introduced by the previous BJP government, have not yet yielded visible results on the ground.