The task before Nagpur Convention
Dear friends,
. .
. . .
May I wish you all a very happy and prosperous new
year 2013. In the year 2012,there was excellent performance by Bharat
Pensioners’.Its continuous endeavors for a
better dispensation for C.G. Pensioners as well as Senior Citizens have won the
appreciation of one and all. The BPS has
been able to mobilize a large number of pensioners and family pensioners in all
its programmes. It created a new
enthusiasm among its rank and file. Its
3rd National Convention of Railway Pensioners at New Jalpaiguri on
31st March, 2012 had surpassed all
expectations and gave a big fillip to our movement. Participation of
more than 300 family pensioners in the procession taken out there in the above
connection was a unique feature unheard of in the annals of pensioners’
movement in our country. Our Mass Dharna
at JantarMantar, New Delhi on October 11, 2012 was a grand success. It demonstrated beyond doubt the capacity of
BPS to rise to new heights in championing the cause of pensioners. In collaboration with AISCCON, BPS has taken
the first steps to awaken pensioners and retirees in various sectors about the
imperative need to come together to secure justice at the hands of powers that
be. Their combined efforts will take a
long awaited concrete shape at a National Convention of these sections proposed
to be held at Hyderabad in October/November 2013, coinciding with the 58th
annual meeting of BPS.
The BPS is holding the 4th National
Convention of Railway Pensioners on 9.2.2013 at Nagpur. The Nagpur convention has not only to give a
new impetus but also a new direction to the Central Government Pensioners’
Movement in general and Railway Pensioners Movement in particular. It is no exaggeration that central government
and railway pensioners throughout the country are eagerly looking forward to
this convention to give the necessary lead..
Our experience has shown that we cannot set much
store on SCOVA to find satisfactory and long lasting solutions to our problems
and demands. The VI CPC had singularly
failed to meet the just and legitimate aspirations of central government
pensioners. It gave a raw deal to the
past pensioners with the result they are so much frustrated today. Even those retiring after 1.1.2006 are not
sanguine about a better future. By
failing to invite the Pensioners’ Organizations for tendering oral evidence
before them, the VI CPC had shown utter contempt to the past pensioners who
were at the fag end of their lives. They
abandoned parity principle enunciated by the V CPC. They did not recommend to them the same fitment
benefit as given to serving employees. They also failed to recommend extension of new benefits to past retirees.
There are no satisfactory solutions to the issues
raised in the National Anomaly Committee as well as in the SCOVA. Issues are being dragged on indefinitely to
the serious discontent and frustration of large number of pensioners and family
pensioners. Even where Court
Judgmentsare in our favour, the authorities do all in their power to prolong
the litigation to tire out the pensioners.
Important benefits such as restoration of commuted pension after 12
years, 50% DR merger, appointment of VII CPC, enhancement of FMA etc., are
being pushed under the carpet on one pretext or another.
In the above circumstances, how to overcome the
hurdles and make progress? The Nagpur
convention should find the answers. It should give a new impetus and direction
to our movement to take it forward to
newer heights to meet the just aspirations of central government pensioners and
to fill them with a new hope and confidence about their future. Only a strong movement will deliver the
goods. Let us do all in our power to
make the Nagpur convention a great success.
With greetings,
Secunderabad,
M.SomasekharRao
Dt: 07.01.2013.
Vice-President, South Zone,
Bharat
Pensioners’ Samaj.
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