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Pensioners stage demonstration for fair deal

Photo: Lingaraj Panda

Pensioners of the Berhampur Municipal Council staging sit-in in Berhampur on Wednesday.

BERHAMPUR: Pensioners of the Berhampur municipality demonstrated in front of the municipal office on Wednesday demanding payment of their pension in time. They alleged that the State government was not providing them pension every month. Most of them had not received their pension for the last 18 months. They received information that the State government had sent money for payment of their 12 months’ pension. They alleged that the money had reached the municipality almost a month ago, but the payment was being delayed for no reason. They were irked on Wednesday when they found that the clerical staff, who were to disburse the pension were not available in the office.

Shyamsundar Tarini, retired headmaster of the Bhimraopeta Municipal ME School and retired headmaster of Ankuli high school, in a satirical voice quipped, “The payment of pensions by the State government to us once a year is just like performing our yearly ‘shraddha’. The government should realise we are living beings who should get their pension every month”.

Laxmi Das, a retired sweeper who is unable to walk, hinted that pensioners like her had to face difficulties to get their pensions passed through the hands of the clerical staff every year. She also wanted the pensions to be paid every month so that the small amount they get as pension could be used in a better way. They also alleged that around 20 pensioners of the municipality had died within last one year awaiting payment of their pension. The municipality has 478 retired employees.

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