Punjab Retired Doctors Protest Pension Arrears Delay Until 2028
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Chandigarh: Doctors who are pension holders, came under the banner of the Pensioner Doctors Association, Punjab, protested against the Punjab government's decision to pay the pending pension arrears from January 2016 to June 2021 in installments, extending until September 2028.
The association announced plans to extend these demonstrations to other districts in collaboration with various pensioners’ and employees’ organizations facing similar issues. Addressing the gathering, association president Dr. D.C. Sharma, along with vice-president Dr. D.S. Bhullar and other senior members, criticized the government for prioritizing excessive advertising expenses instead of addressing the financial struggles of retired doctors. They urged the administration to release the pending pension arrears in a single installment without further delay.
They criticised the government for prioritizing excessive advertising expenses instead of addressing the financial struggles of retired doctors, reports The Tribune. They urged the administration to release the pending pension arrears in a single installment without delay, rather than stretching payments over 42 months until 2028.
Chest Specialist and former State Secretary PCMSA and IMA Punjab and the current State General Secretary of Pensioner Doctors Association Punjab, Dr Surinder Singla posted on social media stating, “The Punjab government's decision to pay the arrears of pensioners and employees from January 2016 to June 2021 in installments till September 2028 is completely absurd and a cruel joke on all sections of the society. Appeal to the government to pay these arrears this year. The Government Health Sector in Punjab has been a neglected sector for long. People hoped a lot from the present AAP Government but here too, unfortunately, the same scenario as during the previous successive governments.”
The protestors highlighted that the government has been withholding arrears under the 6th Punjab Pay Commission for 66 months, covering the period from January 2016 to June 2021. Officials have cited the state's financial distress as the reason for the delay, a justification the association strongly opposes. The pensioners vowed to intensify their agitation until their demands are met, reports the Daily.
