Ranchi: Under a nationwide call, pensioners staged the second phase of a state-level protest in Ranchi in support of their 11-point demands. The protest was chaired by former Senior Superintendent of Post Offices and State President Sadhan Kumar Sinha.
Earlier, a divisional-level protest was organised on August 10, following which a memorandum containing the 11 demands was sent to the Secretary, Department of Posts. During the state-level protest, a resolution was adopted warning that if the demands were not considered at the earliest, a state-level relay hunger strike would begin from December 2. The memorandum was also sent to the Secretary, Department of Posts through Speed Post.
The major demands include regularisation of the service period of RTP employees, immediate withdrawal of the order transferring
pension-related work from post offices to Postal Accounts Offices, extension of the June 30 and December 31 increment benefits to family pensioners, and an end to delays in the settlement of family pensions.
The association also demanded CGHS benefits for Gramin Dak Sevaks who have completed less than 10 years of service.
Addressing the meeting, State Secretary M. Z. Khan raised concerns over the Terms of Reference of the Eighth Pay Commission and demanded inclusion of central pensioners, interim relief, and merger of 50 per cent Dearness Allowance/Dearness Relief with basic pay and pension.
He said a protest would be held at Shaheed Chowk, Ranchi, on September 19 at 3 p.m. A protest is also scheduled at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, on November 25, in which more than a dozen postal pensioners from Jharkhand are expected to participate.
Post a Comment