INCOMETAX PENSIONER FEDERATION

Manishinath Bhawan

 

 

A/2/95 Rajouri Garden,

New Delhi. 110 027

Website: Itpf.blogspot.com

E mail. itpfchq@gmail.com

 

President:                           Com.  Umesh Mehta

Secretary General.          Com. K.K.N. Kutty

 

Dated: 10^th September, 2020.

 

Dear Comrade:

 

OBSERVE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR OLD AND RETIREES.

 

We send herewith copy of the circular letter of NCCPA on the above subject.  It is the decision of the United Nations to observe 1^st Ocfober every year as the international day for old and retirees .  The circular letter of NCCPA appended hereunder explains the significance thereof and the call for the observance of the day has come from the world federation of trade unions, Heeding to the call, the pensioners  and retirees all over the world would be observing it through holding demonstration etc. for an hour on 1^st October, 2020.  We must be proud participants in the programme and on behalf of the National Sectt of ITPF, I request you to kindly take steps to enlist the participation of all our members in the programme despite the difficulties caused by the pandemic but abiding by all the directives of the Govt. 

 

With greetings,

 

Yours fraternally,

KKN Kutty

Secretary General.

 

 

                                                    NATIONAL CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE

OF PENSIONERS ASSOCIATIONS..

Website: nccpahq.blogspot.in.

E mail: nccpahq@gmail.com.

13.c Feroze Shah Road,

New Delhi. 110 001

PRESIDENT:       COM.SHIV GOPAL MISHRA.(97176 47594)

SECy. GENERAL:          COM.K.K.N.KUTTY. (98110 483030)

Dated: 10th September, 2020

To

All the affiliates, State Committees, CGPAs, State Cocs.

 

Dear Comrades,

 

INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR OLDER PERSONS.

OCTOBER IST.

OR DAY OF ELDERLY.

 

We send herewith the circular letter from the General Secretary, TUI (Pensioners and Retirees) of the World Federation of Trade Unions written in connection with the observance of International day for older persons . Throughout the world the retirees and pensioners observe Ist October as  a day of solidarity with all those who fight against exploitation.  It is also to express solidarity with all old people to ensure that the well-being of senior citizens is the responsibility of the society.  To have a decent standard of living and well looked-after old age is considered an inalienable human right.   Unfortunately few countries and fewer governments have recognised this  right of the old people. The welfare society concept in fact came into being in the capitalist society to ward off the threat from the socialist ideology which was pervading in a major segments of the world in the beginning of the 20^th Century.  Now that they could obliterate that threat by foul machinations,  In most of the countries the senior citizens are driven to a wretched life.  The world is now fed with the eulogy of free market, global economy, higher GDP growth rate, mega corporates, super profits and the consequent tickle down effect to serve the people and rescue from the misery and agony.  The greater the inequality , prosperous the country is the new propounded theory.  In our own country, social security and pension payment was considered a drain on the economy and a wasteful expenditure.  The next generation civil servants in the country shall live their retired life in uncertainty and penury as even their hard earned income would have been gobbled up by the so called mega corporations with the tacit help rendered by a Government elected by the same people in the hope that it will look after them. 

 

It was the avalanche of the renewed idea of exploitation that has compelled many countries to make a relook into their social security system and ensure its demolition as has happened in our own country.  They are mocking at the person who made the chair in which the ruler is today sitting.  Observance of this day is to rededicate ourselves to the cause of a struggle to bring in a society sans exploitation; to have a better evening in the life of a human being and a non-dependent existence. 

 

The world Federation of Trade Unions and the Trade Union International ( P&R)  have called upon us  to observe Ist October, 2020 in an appropriate manner. Not forgetting that we are in the midst of a deadly disease called corona virus covid 19 pandemic, we call upon our affiliates, State CoCs CGPAs and our members to organise demonstration by holding the placard, (specimen depicted hereunder) at-least for an hour. We know that this is a small step in the direction of the realisation of our dream – a world sans exploitation- but we are confident from our own experience that our small steps early in our life has enabled us to leap into giant strides. 

 

With greetings,

 

Yours fraternally,

 

 

K.K.N. KUTTY

Secretary General.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Copy of letter from:

THE TUI OF P&RPREPARES THE ACTIONS FOR OCTOBER 1^st, INTERNATIONAL DAY OF STRUGGLE FOR THE RIGHTS OF PENSIONERS AND RETIRED PERSONS (P&R)

 

October 1^st was established by the UN as International Day of Older Persons, or also Day of the Elderly. Since the creation of the International Union of Trade Unions (TUI) of Pensioners and Retirees of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), this date has become a world day to fight against exploitation, due to the requirement to defend the rights of pensioners and retirees, for a decent life based on the wealth that the working class produces every day with its work.

 

Once again, from the WFTU TUI of the WFTU, we call all our organizations and friendly organizations to action, in order to make next October 1^st a day of vindication and fight for the rights of those who have already reached retirement and for the right to worthily retire for those who have not yet reached this stage of life, whether their activity has been carried out in the formal economy or in the informal economy.

 

It is an inalienable human right that, after a life of work, people of working class and popular extraction can leave their habitual activity and live with dignity. We qualify a decent life as one in which, thanks to the retirement pension or the income to which one is entitled, sufficient resources are available, such as habitable housing, drinking water, healthy food and health care, culture, leisure and free, quality public commuter transportation. Today there is enough wealth on the planet for all this; it is only enough to distribute it fairly, instead of spending it in imperialist wars.

 

However, the reality is very different and many people who should have reached retirement must continue working because they do not have access to a sufficient pension, while many of those who have retired cannot have a decent life, a situation that worsens in the case of those who have been unemployed for a time or have worked all or part of their lives in the underground economy or in caring for other people, something that especially affects women.

 

The real and fundamental cause is the capitalist, unfair and exploitative mode of production, strengthened after the temporary defeat of the socialist countries. Currently, the capitalist governments are promoting new anti-worker measures, against pensioners, the working class and the people. In general, the working life is extended, the years of contribution are increased to be entitled to a pension and the amount received is decreased, all with the final objective of privatizing pensions and converting into another business for financial capital, what should be a universal right. That is the meaning of the existence and extension of the Pension Fund Administration entities (AFP) in numerous countries and the approval, by the European Union, of the so-called European Personal Pension Plan (PEPP), which as TUI of P&R of the WFTU We have denounced (in Europe the First European Action of the P&R was held on June 17).

 

In the name of capitalist competitiveness, retired people and pensioners around the world experience the worsening of their living conditions and those of their descendants, while social goods are commercialized and bloody conflicts and wars are promoted (with money from all citizens) imperialists.

 Against all this, we call for coordinated international action on October 1. We will fight with unity and common action as the working class, the people and those who suffer capitalist exploitation, for our immediate objectives, but always with the perspective of a society without exploitation, oppression, poverty, war or calamities.

 

Every October 1^st we will demand that a decent job is guaranteed for all people, adapted to their abilities, that allows them to live with dignity and generate a decent pension or, if this fails, that the state budgets assign them a decent pension. without the humiliating adjective of "non-contributory".

 

Every October 1^st we will go out to the streets to approve, in the laws and constitutions of the countries, the obligation of the states to ensure, through public budgets, pensions that allow all people to retire from their jobs and live worthily.

 

LONG LIVE THE FIGHT DAY OF OCTOBER 1^st!

LET'S ALL PARTICIPATE IN IT!

July 2,020

TUI (International Union of Trade Unions) of Pensioners and Retirees (P&R) of the WFTU.

 

 

 

 

INCOMETAX PENSIONER FEDERATION

Manishinath Bhawan

A/2/95 Rajouri Garden,

New Delhi. 110 027

Website: Itpf.blogspot.com

E mail. itpfchq@gmail.com

President:                           Com.  Umesh Mehta

Secretary General.          Com. K.K.N. Kutty

Dated: 5^th August, 2020.

N O T I C E

Notice is hereby given for a meeting of the National Executive of the Income-tax Pensioners Federation, New Delhi on 14^th August, 2020 at 4.00PM.  Message had been sent to all the members’ through whatsup in the last week of July, 2020.  The meeting will be held through video conferencing.  The link required to attend the meeting will be sent a few hours before the meeting is scheduled to commence.  All are requested to come through the link for the meeting at 3.45 pm. Once the meeting is commenced, the participants may kindly switch off both the video and audio so that it would be possible for everybody to listen to the deliberations properly.  The meeting will discuss the following agenda.

1.       Review of the participation of the programme chalked out by NCCPA aginst the decision to freeze the DR and deny the arrears upto  July, 2020.

2.       Suggestions for further programme for the realization of the above demand.

3.       Corona situation in each state and the state of difficulties of the pensioners in general and Income tax pensioners in particular.

4.       Finance:   payment of subscription. Sanction for the purchase of a laptop computer.

5.       Souvenir  publication .

6.       CGHS- health care- corona specific matters

7.       Any other matter with the permission of the chair .

All are requested to attend the meeting without fail. 

K.K.N.Kutty,

Secretary General.

To  All NE members. Copy to Com.S.K.Sharma to communicate through whatsup.

Copy to itpf website.  

INCOMETAX PENSIONER FEDERATION

Manishinath Bhawan

A/2/95 Rajouri Garden,

New Delhi. 110 027

Website: Incometax pensioners federation.blogspot.com

E mail. itpfchq@gmail.com

Dated: 10^th July, 2020. 

Dear Comrade,

                Since the advent of covid 19 pandemic, the country had been facing perhaps the toughest challenge.  Despite the best efforts, the sweep and spread of the pandemic could not be halted.  Day by day its intensity is on the rise.  Most of the pensioners, especially the senior comrades has been placed under house arrest .   The lock down declared with the usual suddenness was meant to ensure that the epidemic  does not reach the intolerable peak.  In the wake of the lock out the country witnessed the stark fact that how insufficient is its public health system.  Over the years, especially after 1991, when the new policy on economic administration was ushered in, when privatization was considered the panacea for all ills, when globalization was considered the only remedy for faster economic growth, when we were told that there is no alternative, the health of the security of the people received the least consideration from the rulers.  Insurance and insurance companies sprang up.  The private hospitals  with 5 star facilities came into existence.  We in the middle class applauded  all these “great” happenings.  We witnessed during this pandemic days that wherever the public health system had not been thoroughly dismantled, the poor could get treatment and get cured .  What is unfortunate is that there had been no appreciation of this fact in the so called free media of our country.  The hollowness of the insurance system against pandemic proved beyond doubt that there must be a public health system, rather a very strong and powerful system, catering to the requirement of the people at large, to get the Nation, the real status of a welfare state. 

We have been restricted to our homes for the past three and half months.  There had been many problems connected with the virus and the health system available to us in the form of CGHS and medical reimbursement.  On the basis of the feedback we have been receiving, these issues have been addressed to a very limited extent.  Kindly visit the nccpa website for details. 

The NCCPA sectt. members met once through the video conferencing. The only way we would be able to interact in  another year  would be through this new technology.  Its pan Indian usage would become a reality soon.   There was a meting with the Secretary health  yesterday by the members of the staff side jcm on CGHS issues.  As and when the circular letter is received it would be placed on the website. 

In the meantime, as you are aware, the Government took the decision to  freeze the Dearness relief upto 1.7.2021 in the name of covid.  Pandemic.  The NCCPA had taken strong  objection  as the decision was not only untenable but unwarranted and illegal also. It has been decided in the meting of the Sectt.that the pensioner community as a whole must  record their objection.  We reproduce hereunder the resolution adopted at the sect. meting in the matter as also the circular of the NCCPA.  It must be our endeavor  that each of our affiliates send the e mail to the Prime Minister and also ensure that each individual member send the similar mail.   In the given circumstances, we would not be able to organize any other form of protest action.  The  freezed DR will not be paid back to us   as the order has clearly stated that no arrears would be paid to the employees and pensioners on 1.07,2021.  As has been noted in the resolution this has been an unprecedented step taken by any Government.  We must be confident that our continued resistance will compel the Government to reverse this untenable decision.

With greetings,

Yours fraternally,

KKN Kutty

Secretary General

NATIONAL CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE

OF PENSIONERS  ASSOCIATIONS.

13-C Feroze Shah Road, New Delhi. 110 001.

Website: nccpahq.blogspot.in.

E mail: nccpahq@gmail.com.

PRESIDENT:       COM.SHIV GOPAL MISHRA.(97176 47594)

SECY. GENERAL:          COM.K.K.N.KUTTY. (98110 483030)

Dated: 02.07.2020

Dear  Comrades.

                The National Secretariat of NCCPA met though video conferencing on 15^th June, 2020.  Com. Shiv Gopal Misra, President chaired the meeting.   Due to some technical reasons, Com. Pavitra Chakraborty and Com. Prabhakaran Nair (both Deputy Secretary Generals) could not join the meeting.  The meeting which lasted for more than an hour took note of the following developments.

(a)    The unhindered spread of Covid 19 corona virus in the country despite lock down of more than 75 days.

(b)   The plight of pensioners  and other retired personnel  during this period

(c)    The utter disregard of CGHS over the difficulties of the beneficiaries, especially pensioners.

(d)   The decision of the Government to deny the dearness relief for 18 months

(e)   The vigorous persuasion of the privatization of even strategic sectors of the economy taking advantage of the corona situation in the country.

(f)     Amendments to labour laws including increasing the working hours

(g)    The proposed movement of the united platform of central trade unions.

2.            The meeting also briefly discussed the prospects of pursuing the MACP cases in the administrative tribunal.  It was decided that in view of the situation obtaining in Delhi due to covid 19 as also at Chennai, the matter might be kept pending for some more time.  However, in the meantime the Secretary General may generate a format of application form and place the same on the website.  The affiliates might get the application filled in by the interested persons and collect the requisite fees from them so that the case can be filed as and when the courts are open. 

2.            After discussions, the meting took the following decisions:

(i)            The pensioners, wherever possible will join hands with the working employees

to take part in the protest actions  organized by the united platform of working class as also independently by the CGE organizations.

(ii)           to send an appropriately worded resolution to the Prime Minister conveying the feelings and problems of pensioners especially emanating from the denial of DR.

(iii)          to advise each affiliate and the pensioner member to send a brief e mail communication to the Prime Minister.

(iv)         the affiliates and the members will be advised to ensure that the e mails are sent before the end of July, 2020.

(v) On CGHS difficulties, the President and Secretary General will take up the matter with the Staff  Side JCM and prepare common  communication as the issues are  one and the same for both pensioners and working employees.

3.            The text of the resolution as also the draft e mail message to be sent by all to the Prime Minister are annexed.  The  e-mail to the Prime Minister may be sent to his official e mail address. [There are three methods: Either to narendramodi1234@gmail.com (PM Email ID) or connect@mygov.nic.in (PMO Email ID) or by going to http;//pgportal.gov.in and registering with your user ID and Password you can send the email to Honourable Prime Minister].

4.            The meeting decided that the National Executive of NCCPA must meet in July through video conferencing.  The Secretary General was asked to take requisite steps. 

5.            All the Sectt. members and the Chief  Executives (Secretary General/General Secretary) of affiliates  are requested to communicate their e-mail address to Com. K.Ragavendran, Deputy Secretary General  NCCPA. A link will be emailed in that email from nccpa.hq@gmail.com  and by clicking the link you all can join the video conference.

6.            In the meantime, a meeting was arranged by the General Secretary of TUI (P&R) in which besides the undersigned, Com.  K.Ragavendran and Com. K.G.Jayaraj attended. We are happy to inform you that Com. K.Ragavendran has been elected as the Convenor of the Asian region of TUI .  We propose to hold a meeting of the representatives of the pensioners associations in the Asian continent first through video conferencing.  Kindly visit the website for knowing the developments in the pensioners’ world.

                With greetings,

Yours fraternally,

K.K.N. Kutty

Secretary General

Full text of the resolution to be sent to the Prime Minister by the NCCPA.

This meeting of the National Secretariat of NCCPA held through video conferencing painfully takes note of the extremely alarming situation developed in the world due to the Covid 19 corona pandemic.

The meeting pays sorrowful homage to lakhs of people around the world who succumbed to the deadly disease and conveys the heartfelt condolences of the members of NCCPA to the bereaved members of the family of the covid victims.

The meeting takes note of the sacrifice, courage, conviction,  dedication and the untiring efforts of the health workers, especially the Doctors, Nurses, Para medical staff both in India and abroad by virtue of which millions escaped  from the jaws of death.  The meeting specially noted the supreme sacrifice of some of the health workers who laid down their lives for rescuing others.

 

Besides the health workers, the meeting noted that the law enforcing personnel of the police department, officials of the local bodies, viz. Panchayat, City Corporations and towns, the Government officials from the revenue and other departments, the Asha and Anganawadi workers, the people who formed voluntary organizations; all have worked in unison to control and combat the spread of the deadly disease, given the fact that there exist no preventive and curative medicine.  The meeting observed that but for the admirable response of the people at large to the directives of the Government, the lock down would not have been effective at all and they above all deserve the greatest appreciation and admiration.

The meeting also placed on record with pride and satisfaction that the pensioner community and especially those who are members of various affiliates of NCCPA had responded to the call of the Government to donate a day’s salary/pension  to the Prime Minister’s public relief fund to provide the much needed financial assistance to the people at large.

The meeting however noted that the pensioner community had felt exasperated over the failure of the Government of India to appreciate their plight caused by the sudden decision taken to bring into effect a complete lock down to combat the spread of the covid virus. Most of them being small income pensioners and family pensioners could not make both ends meet even in the normal circumstances.  The lock down and the consequent difficulties were unbearable for them.  Being Senior citizen, they had been inflicted with various ailments and other physical debilities.  The lock down made their life miserable.  No helping hand was extended to them.  Contrary to what ought to have been done by the Government to mitigate their difficulties, Government of India chose to deny them even the dearness relief they were entitled to receive from Ist January, 2020.

The meeting felt that the decision of the Government conveyed vide their order in O;.M. No. 1/1/2020.EII (B) dated 23^rd April, 2020 to deny them the dearness relief  with effect from 1.1.2020 for another  18months had been the unkindest one ever taken by any Government.  The meeting noted that never in the history of the country even on occasions when its very  existence had been threatened by external aggression or when it faced the worst financial crisis in 1990, has it resorted to confiscate the meager pension income of senior citizens.  The meeting observed that no country in the world had resorted to such a step as has been taken by the Government of India to heap such inhuman burden on senior citizens.  Especially in the background of the 20 trillion rupee package, the major beneficiaries of which had been the rich entrepreneurs and multinational corporate establishments, the denial of even the legitimate entitlements of the pensioners, the meeting felt has revealed the sadistic state of mind of people in authority. 

The meeting also noted that it was the same disdainful attitude that had been responsible for the permission extended to the oil companies to raise the retail prices of petrol and diesel continuously for 22 days when the crude oil price in the international market had been diminishing, unmindful of the misery and agony of the people.  It was the crudest exploitation of a situation pretty well knowing that the people gripped with the fear of the pandemic corona virus would not be able to make any resistance movement possible. 

The meeting has, therefore, unequivocally affirms that the order issued on23rd April, 2020 to deny the dearness relief  to the pensioners  must be rescinded immediately, for besides the agony it inflicts on the pensioner community, it is without legal status for the rules strictly prohibits curtailment of pension entitlements under any circumstances.   The Government must appreciate that dearness relief is an integral part of the pension and the Government has no authority either to deny any part of it or even to defer its payment.

The meeting has, therefore, decided to appeal to the Government to immediately release the 7% Dearness relief and make over the payment of the arrears to the pensioners without any further loss of time and direct the Ministry of Finance to rescind the orders cited in so far as it is applicable to the pensioners and dearness relief.

Shiv  Gopal Misra

President.

Draft Email communication addressed to the Prime Minister

We/I solicit your kind reference to the resolution adopted by the National Secretariat of the National Coordination Committee of Pensioners Association (NCCPA) , copy of which has already been submitted to the honourable Prime Minister on …..July, 2020.  We/I being an affiliated member association/member request the honourable Prime Minister to kindly direct the Ministry of Finance to rescind the order in O.M.No. 1/1/2020-E.II(B) dated 23^rd April, 2020 forthwith and sanction the dearness relief which has  become due from 1.1.2020.

INCOMETAX PENSIONER FEDERATION

Manishinath Bhawan

A/2/95 Rajouri Garden,

New Delhi. 110 027

Website: itpfchq.blogspot.com

E mail. itpfchq@gmail.com

President:           Com. Umeh Mehta:        74339 84696

Secy.General     K.K.N.Kutty                        98110 48303

Dated:24.04.2020

Dear Comrades,

                As you are aware, the Government has issued orders to freeze the three instalments of Dearness allowance/Dearness relief that has become due on 1.1.2020 and will become due on 1.7/2020 and again on 1.01.2021. The adduced reasons are the situation arising from the spread of Covid-19 and the consequent lock down.  The matter was discussed with our colleagues in the Sectt. of the NCCPA .  It was decided that we should appeal to the Prime Minister to revisit the issue as the Pensioners are not capable of (if not all, atleast a good number of them – especially the family pensioners and the low income pensioners) facing the financial difficulties that might arise from the denial of the Dearness relief.  What is most astonishing is the decision to impound the arrears of Dearness Relief on 1.7.2021.  We have pointed out that at no time in the past such an extreme step has ever been taken by the Government.  In fact some of the pensioners would require financial assistance during this crisis period. The letter NCCPA has written to the Prime Minister is self explanatory.  You may kindly go through the same. 

                During this crisis period, we  have been, especially, the pensioners have been advised by the Government to restrict themselves within the four walls of the home.  This is a precaution as it is unambiguous  that at the ageing process, one is likely to lose the capacity to fight diseases.  However, occasionally, we must get in contact with each other to share our thoughts telephonically. You may reach the undersigned through e mail or sms for any exigencies or to share views which are required to be brought to the notice of the Government. 

                Copy of the NCCPA Circular and letter to the PM are enclosed.

                With greetings,

Yours fraternally,

K.K.N. Kutty

Secretary General

NATIONAL COORDINATION COMMITTEE OF PENSIONERS ASSOCIATIONS

13C, Feroze Shah Road, New Delhi 110001

Shiv Gopal Sharma                                                                                                    K.K.N.Kutty

 President                                                                                                                   Secretary General

Dear Comrades!

Registration of NCCPA

The important work related to registration of NCCPA under Trade Union Act as decided in our 4^th AIC at Jaipur is facing delay due to corona pandemic and the resultant lockout. A preliminary discussion to prepare necessary documents was held at Delhi but due to lock down I could not undertake any journey to Delhi in the middle of March, 2020. Comrades K.Ragavendran Deputy Secretary General; M.L.Gupta Vice President; H.L.Sidhu Treasurer; and K.D.Khera Chief Advisor of PNB Pensioners Welfare Association met and attended some initial work of preparing documents for the registration. I will go to Jaipur after the lockdown at the appropriate time to complete the process of registration. CHQ Vice Presidents Comrades S.K.Sharma and M.L.Gupta are directly involved in this important task.

DA/DR Impounding by the Central Government

The Government of India has issued an unilateral order on 23.04.2020 vide No.1/1/2020-E.II(B) of Ministry of Finace, Department of Expenditure to freeze the DA/DR of CG Employees and Pensioners up to 30.06.2021 and that not to pay any arrears even after the lifting of the freezing with effect from 1.7.2021. The authoritative and unilateral action of the Government has received widespread condemnation from different organizations of Central Government Employees and Pensioners.

NCCPA as the apex organization of various Pensioners Associations at National level and CGPA affiliates at State level expressed its strong condemnation to the Government over this unilateral impounding of DA/DR. The Government have not taken the facts that even before the said impounding, the NCCPA and its affiliates have been donating to the cause of fighting corona to either the PMNRF or State Chief Ministers’ Relief Funds. In addition there had been a wage cut on the CG Employees and the Pensioners also were requested to offer willingness to recover from Pension towards the relief. The unilateral action of impounding of three installments due from 1.1.2020; 1.7.2020; and 1.1.2021 without any arrears on restoration will be acting very severely on the Pensioners whose livelihood is based on Pension and periodical Dearness Relief to offset the cost of living rise. Recovery of pension from 4% to around 12% Pension for a period of 18 months will be excessively harsh on the senior citizens.

NCCPA has therefore written to the Prime Minister to intervene to cause to rescind the orders of the Finance Minister dated 23.04.2020. The copy of letter addressed to the Honourable Prime Minister is enclosed for the information of our affiliates. Any inaction on the part of the Government will be discussed in our National Executive after the restoration of normalcy and organizational decisions will be taken. All our affiliates are requested to send an identical letter of protest to the Honourable Prime Minister on behalf of their respective organizations.

National Executive of NCCPA

The National Executive of NCCPA scheduled to be held at Ernakulam on 25^th April could not be held due to corona and lockdown. The exact date of the meeting will be later intimated in consultation with the General Secretary of AIBDPA who are hosting the event. Sufficient advance notice will be given to all for facilitating journey reservation.

Comradely Yours,

                              Sd/-

(K.K.N.Kutty)

Secretary General

Encl: Copy of Email to Prime Minister.

National Coordination Committee of Pensioners Association

13C, FEroze Shah Road, New Delhi 110001

Shiv Gopal Mishra                                                                                                 K.K.N.Kutty

   President                                                                                                      Secretary General

To

The Honourable Prime Minister,

Government of India,

South Block,

New Delhi. 110 001

Dear Sir,

Sub: Freezing of dearness allowance to Central Government Employees and dearness relief to Central Government Pensioners at current rates till July, 2021.

                Please refer to the O.M. No. 1/1/2020-EII (B) dated 23^rd April, 2020 issued by the Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance in view of the crisis arising out of the pandemic Covid -19. ordering that the dearness relief to Central Government Pensioners will be freezed at the current rates till July, 2021. In this connection, we on behalf of the Central Government pensioners submit the following for your kind consideration.

               

The  Central Government pensioners, immediately after your appeal for donation to combat the spread of the pandemic Covid-19  had voluntarily contributed to the Prime Minister Relief Fund  or the respective Chief Minister’s Relief fund to the best of their capacity.   Pensioners, as you are aware Sir, being senior Citizens are mostly inflicted with several diseases and physical debilities and are presently directed by the authorities to be confined to their homes.  They are prohibited to go out and are depended upon others for their dire needs.   Pension being 50% of the last drawn salary or even less, they  are seldom able to make the both ends meet.

The above cited order of the Government of India has been a bolt from the blue for many pensioners.  Since they are depended upon others for every of their needs, the procurement of medicines, visiting hospitals, collecting groceries et all, have  become costlier than what it was a few months back.  In fact presently they are in dire need of extra allowances to pull on.  They along with the millions of  people all over the world wanted the pandemic to end and therefore, support every decision of the Government especially the restrictions imposed on their movement. 

The decision of the Government to freeze the Dearness allowance which had become due on 1^st January, 2020 is an unprecedented one.   We earnestly feel that the country’s economy has not reached such a situation that the Government needs to curtail the meager pension income of the old people.  Never in the political history  of the country, even when its very existence was threatened by external aggression or during the worst financial crisis of 1990s the Government has resorted to confiscate the pension income of senior citizens.   No doubt our country like many other Nations of the world is fighting  to wipe out the pandemic  and the lock down has halted all economic activities.  We are certain that you will be able to note that no other country has decided to confiscate the income of pensioners.  We feel that our country’s economy is robust and is capable of facing the challenges without resort to pauperizing the pensioners.  While benefit packages are extended to considerably well to-do segments in the society, the denial of the due entitlements to the pensioners is extremely painful.

From the order it is seen that the Government has not only decided to freeze the DR entitlements but would not also release the arrears even after the normalcy in the economic activities is brought about.  We can only characterize it as the unkindest cut.  We also would like to point out that an appeal from your good-self for donation  would have elicited  greater response  and the pensioners who are  comparatively well off would have responded admirably and the Government might have collected more than what it would receive by the operation of the above cited order.  That would have helped immensely the comparatively low income pensioners, especially the family pensioners.

It would, therefore, be appropriate that the pensioners are excluded from the purview of the O.M.cited .  The decision to impound the arrears of Dearness relief  in July,2021  is extremely harsh on low income pensioners and family pensioners especially.  Impounding the Dearness relief, in our opinion is not legally tenable without the consent of the concerned pensioner.  The Finance Ministry is well aware of the rule that the entitled pension cannot be curtailed.    Whoever has advised the Government that the Dearness Relief on pension should not be construed as pension are wrong and their interpretation is not at all tenable. 

We, therefore, appeal to you that for the reasons  stated by us in the preceding paragraphs, the order issued by the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure  cited, may be directed to be withdrawn forthwith. 

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

Sd/- 

K.K.N.Kutty

Secretary General