Ranchi: A meeting of the All India Postal/RMS Pensioners Association, Jharkhand, was held at the GPO under the chairmanship of K.D. Rai ‘Vyathit’. More than three dozen Postal/RMS pensioners participated in the meeting along with Shiv Sevak Pathak, Devendra Prasad and N. Pandey from the Central Ground Water Board.
During the meeting, members resolved to unitedly oppose the alleged amendments to the Pension Act and intensify awareness campaigns among pensioners and pensioners’ organisations across the state. Speakers said that 17 organisations affiliated with the Pensioners Association had filed a petition in the Supreme Court in November last year against the “draconian” amendments, which is currently at the hearing stage. They alleged that the proposed amendments violate Article 14 of the Constitution and infringe upon the Right to Equality.
Concern was also expressed over the lack of hassle-free treatment facilities under the CGHS. Speakers said beneficiaries, especially pensioners, continue to face serious difficulties in obtaining treatment and medicines. They alleged that indent medicines are often supplied only after a week, whereas they should be made available within three days. Delay in the availability of life-saving medicines was also criticised.
The meeting further noted that no Local/Zonal Advisory Committee meeting has been conducted for the past three years, despite provisions of the Health Ministry requiring such meetings to be held on the second and third Saturdays of every month. Association representatives had submitted a memorandum to the Additional Director in March and were assured that the meeting would be convened in April.
It was decided that a phased membership drive would be launched across Jharkhand to create greater awareness among pensioners. The Association also announced that a free medical camp for arthritis patients would be organised in the last week of May with the support of a Delhi-based consultant agency.
Members congratulated M.Z. Khan on being elected National Joint Secretary during the 4th National Conference and described it as a major achievement for Jharkhand.
The meeting was addressed by M.Z. Khan, Sadhan Kumar Sinha, Bipin Chaudhary, Ranganath Pandey, Shamim Akhtar, K.D. Rai ‘Vyathit’, Ramchandra Prasad, R.K. Verma, G.D. Sahu and Shiv Sevak Pathak, among others. Several members, including Hasina Tigga, Amita Kujur, Ishaq Minj, Md. Rafi, Noor Mohammad, Dhaneshwar Goswami, Triloki Nath Sahu, Dhaneshwar Mahto, Man Rakhan Mahto, Bhawan Barla, D.J. Minj, S.P. Singh, Sheikh Habib, Sushila Kujur, Saroj Kumar Kesari and R.K. Minj, were present.
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