The Fact News Service
Mohali, May 8
In a meeting held here today, the Punjab Senior Vets Association urged the Punjab Government to rationalise the period of recovery of commuted pension of retired Officers and employees.
Former Chief Executive Officer, Punjab Gau Sewa Commission Dr Nitin Kumar Gupta and former Joint Director Animal husbandary Dr Gurinder Singh Walia said that recovery period of commuted pension was set at 15 years at the time when rates of interest were hovering around 10-12 % , but now rates were 6-8 % . At these interest rates, the recovery of commuted portion of pension gets over in about 10 years.
It’s pertinent to mention here that a petition was filed in the Punjab and Haryana high court to reduce the recovery period of commuted portion of pension and the Government had given undertaking that in consonance with the prevailing interest rates, the recovery period shall be rationalised but till date nothing tangible had been done to provide relief to the pensioners who were at the fag end of their lives.
To provide justice to pre 1/1/2016 pensioners, multiplier of 2.59 should be used instead of 2.45 as already assured by Ministers’ sub committee, Dr Walia added.
Dr Desh Deepak Goyal lamented that Rs 200/- per month was deducted as Development tax from all the employees and pensioners for some time by the previous Congress government but instead of discontinuing it, the present government had continued this unholy practice. He demanded that this recovery of Rs 200 should be stopped immediately.
Dr Madhukesh Palta, former Deputy Director demanded time bound disbursal of arrears of retired Vets as per schedule released by the Finance department. He added further that medical facility on pattern of Central Government Health Scheme should be provided to Punjab govt employees and pensioners.
Prominent among others present in the meeting were Dr Jagjit Singh, Dr Madan Mohan Singla, Dr Naresh Sachdeva, Dr Nirmaljit S Mahal and Dr Shashi Saini .
