Calls for 8th Pay Commission benefits, restoration of OPS, and immediate relief for senior citizens
Srinagar, Oct 10: Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir Pensioners United Front (JKPUF), Abdul Qayoom Wani, on Saturday led a massive protest demonstration at Floriculture Park near Lal Chowk in Srinagar, demanding immediate resolution of the long-pending issues of pensioners, senior citizens, employees and workers.
The protest witnessed a large gathering of pensioners, who unanimously adopted a 12-point resolution urging the Central and Jammu and Kashmir governments to intervene urgently and address their long-standing demands.
Sending a strong message to the authorities, Wani said the patience of crores of pensioners and senior citizens must not be tested any further, asserting that those who devoted their lives to public service deserved dignity, social security, healthcare and financial stability after retirement.
The resolution called for immediate extension of the benefits of the 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC) to all pensioners across the country. It also demanded the revocation of the existing Terms of Reference and the Validation Act, 2025, which, according to JKPUF, deny pensioners their rightful consideration under the new pay commission.
Among the key demands was the discontinuation of recovery of commuted pension after 10 years, citing judgments of the Supreme Court and other courts. The association also sought enhancement of the monthly medical allowance to Rs 3,000 for every pensioner and removal of disparities between Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
The JKPUF further demanded the extension of the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) to all pensioners, irrespective of their date of retirement, and withdrawal of the restriction applicable to those who retired after October 10, 2019.
Wani also called for an increase in old-age and widow pensions from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 per month, along with the immediate withdrawal of the New Pension Scheme (NPS) and restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).
The resolution also highlighted the need to regularise eligible in-charge officers and other employees in the Education Department and other government departments. It called for expediting the regularisation of daily wagers, casual labourers and other temporary employees, besides implementing minimum wages for vulnerable categories, including contingent-paid workers in the Education Department, Anganwadi workers, ASHA workers, cooks, Special Police Officers (SPOs), Aaya workers and other similarly placed employees.
The JKPUF chairman urged the government to ensure job security and equal pay for equal work for contractual employees engaged under Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS).
Emphasising the welfare of senior citizens, Wani sought effective implementation of the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, 2007, including the provision of Senior Citizen Cards through a single-window mechanism and dedicated counters at government offices, hospitals, airports and Civil Secretariats.
He also demanded the release of Dearness Allowance (DA) withheld during the COVID-19 period and sought additional pension at the rate of five per cent each upon attaining the ages of 65, 70 and 80 years, instead of the existing provision of 20 per cent at the age of 80.
Addressing the gathering, Wani said pensioners could not be ignored indefinitely and called upon the Central and Jammu and Kashmir governments to come forward with concrete measures to resolve their grievances.
He said pensioners had devoted the best years of their lives to public service and nation-building and deserved respect and financial security rather than repeated delays and assurances.
Wani also criticised public representatives for, as he alleged, remaining vocal about their own privileges and protocol while failing to adequately address the concerns of employees, workers and pensioners despite repeated representations.
He appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Union Finance Minister and the Union Home Minister to personally intervene in the matter and respond to the concerns of pensioners and senior citizens across the country.
Warning that continued neglect could compel pensioners to intensify their agitation at the national level, Wani said the movement would continue through peaceful and democratic means until their genuine demands were addressed.
Support for national-level pensioners’ programmes
The gathering unanimously resolved to extend unconditional support to national-level protest programmes being organised to safeguard the legitimate rights of pensioners.
Wani informed the participants that the Core Committee of the All India State Pensioners Federation was scheduled to meet in Delhi next month to deliberate upon and finalise its future course of action.
Calls for unity among pensioners
Describing the Srinagar demonstration as a wake-up call for pensioners across Jammu and Kashmir and the country, Wani urged those who had remained away from organised activities to join the movement.
He stressed that unity and sustained democratic action were essential to compel the authorities to take pensioners’ concerns seriously.
“This is the right time to unite and act unitedly. If we remain silent today, it may be too late tomorrow. Pensioners must stand together to protect their dignity, rights and social security and to give a befitting democratic response to anti-pensioner policies,” Wani said.
The protest concluded with a unanimous pledge to continue the pensioners’ movement through peaceful, constitutional and democratic means until the demands incorporated in the resolution were addressed.
