Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 7: Jammu and Kashmir Pensioners & Senior Citizen United Front, along with representatives of various employees’ and trade union bodies, today raised serious concern over prolonged delays in addressing long-pending service and pension-related issues of Government employees, retirees, and daily wagers across the Union Territory.
Addressing a joint media briefing, the Front said employees and pensioners were facing acute financial distress due to rising prices of essential commodities, delayed retirement benefits, and unresolved policy matters. The speakers appealed to the Government and elected representatives to take immediate steps to concede the genuine demands to avoid further resentment and unrest among employees.
The Front highlighted that daily wagers, adhoc and contractual workers, seasonal tribal teachers, Rehbar-e-Taleem, Rehbar-e-Janglat, Anganwadi workers and helpers, ASHA workers, National Health Mission staff, Home Guards, cooks and vocational trainees continue to suffer due to lack of regularization and job security. It also demanded re-engagement of ousted casual labourers in the tourism sector.
Key demands included immediate release of pending GP Fund, leave salary, commutation, gratuity and other retirement benefits, stating that inordinate delays defeat the very purpose of post-retirement financial support. The Front also sought enhancement of medical allowance for pensioners and employees on par with other Union Territories, implementation of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), and disposal of pending SRO-43 cases.
Other issues raised were removal of pay anomalies in clerical and allied cadres, release of 18 months’ dearness allowance frozen during the COVID-19 period, full implementation of the Eighth Pay Commission benefits including for retired employees, and restoration of withheld annual increments under SRO-202. The Front also demanded restoration of additional increments linked to the Secretariat Assistant course and enhancement of old-age pension from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000.
While concluding, the leadership announced a protest demonstration on February 11 outside the Press Club urging all stakeholders to join collectively to press for immediate redressal of demands.
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