Woes of pre-April 87
pensioners
Sir,
Issuance of formal Govt. order for revision of
pensions of those pensioners who retired prior to
1-4-87, has been kept pending by the concerned
authorities presumably due to financial crisis
being faced by J&K Govt presently . In this
regard I would like to draw the kind attention of
the Ministers and the Authorities concerned,
towards the following facts:-
Firstly in these
times of galloping prices of essential
commodities, even the serving employees, with
their higher revised emoluments, are feeling it
difficult to meet their day to day family
expenses. The plight of the pensioners, whose
income has been reduced to almost half of their
last pay drawn while in service, can be well
imagined. And among the pensioners, those who
retired prior to 1-4-87 and unfortunately are
still surviving on the meagre pensions fixed on
the basis of the grades prevailing more than a
decade ago, is simply pitiable.
Secondly, whereas
the number of fresh pensioners is increasing
every month, the number of pre 1-4-87 retirees
has been decreasing all these years and presently
they constitute only a small percentage of total
number of pensioners. As such the financial
liability on account of revision of the pensions
of these old pensioners, would not so great as to
deter the Govt. from discharging its social
obligations towards these ex-employees who were
once the vital parts of the Government machinery
and spent the prime of their youth in the service
of the State.
Thirdly the
procedure being adopted for the revision of the
pensions of pre 1-4-87 retirees is quite
cumbersome and lengthy. Even if the Govt, issues
order in this regard today financial liability is
not likely to arise in the next 4 to 6 months,
which is the minimum period required for the
fixation of their pensions. Moreover because of
the comparative small number of these old
pensioners, this financial liability too would be
only a small fraction of the total amount being
provided presently for payment of pensions to the
whole lot of pensioners.
I would,
therefore, request the concerned authorities to
consider this case from the above said points and
not to withhold anymore the issuance of orders
regarding revision of pensions of Pre 1-4-87
retirees. By issuing these orders the Govt. is
not likely to take upon itself any substantial
financial liability and more so before the end of
the current financial year. By doing so the Govt
shall at least provide some succour to these
poorest of the poor pensioners.
Yours etc.............
D.N. Chibber
Bazar Dhaki Sarajan,
Jammu Tawi-180001
 Irresponsive
Administration
Sir,
This has reference to news item ''Bid to
check price rise'' which appeared in DE
dated 3.11.1998. Like Central Government,
our state government to kept silence for
about three months to initiate steps for
checking the price rise of essential
commodities, which has crossed all
previous records. Now when the common man
has already suffered a lot and his hard
earned money which has been looted by the
black marketers and hoarders in the name
of artificial scarcity of essential goods
(self created) cannot be made good.
Common man is of the firm belief that
government by not taking any action in
time, has helped the black marketers and
hoarders.Rate of onions had gone upto
Rs 50-60 a kg but one could purchase
truck loads of onion from market. Where
was shortage? There is no hope of any
downward trend in the prices already shot
up. Mere displaying of rate lists does
not serve any purpose unless whole sale
index is brought down to a considerable
extent.
It may be
pertinent to point out that even the own
house of Govt is not in order. No rate
lists of rations, LPG and K Oil have ever
been displayed at Govt Depots and K Oil
is openly sold at exorbitant rates i.e Rs
80-100 a tin to blackmarketers who
further sale the same (as against Rs 52/-
the approved rate) to poor labourers and
consumers Rs 7-10 a bottle. Similarly
mal-practices in the sale of other
controlled commodities are reported off
and on. First of all Govt should get
displayed rate lists of the above
controlled items at Govt Depots for the
information of consumers who are kept in
dark and cheated. Home Delivery of LPG to
every consumer be ensured strictly as a
consumer has to spend Rs 40-50 per
cylinder for its collection besides
inconvenience attached to it. In the same
way whole-salers should be bound to
display whole sale rate lists with day to
day stock position of essential
commodities because rates vary from shop
to shop.
Special
Vigil is required to be maintained on
Industrial units engaged in the
manufacture of spices like mirch powder,
turmeric powder etc. etc.
Yours etc....
M R Gupta
Reshamghar Colony
Jammu.
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