AGARTALA, Oct 4 (TIWN): Even after continuous protests held by EPF pensioners’ in Agartala but State Govt yet to understand the agonies of the senior citizens. On the one hand price hike has gripped the state, but there is no initiative taken by the state govt. to hike the pensions, salaries of the employees and pensioners. Although High Court issued some orders about heavy vehicle drivers’ salaries, but Govt yet to follow the instructions. Tripura State Govt. undertaking EPF Pensioner’s Association continue their protest, as on Tuesday again the members of the Association staged protest at TRTC office. However, SDM controlled the situation later. Although on July 3 senior citizens in demand of pension-hike had hit before Tripura Chief Minister’s residence and following more 2 protests but getting no reply Pensioners again protested in TRTC on Tuesday condemning against the silence of Govt. On that time during protest a senior citizen became seriously ill & fell off on road before Chief Minister’s residence.

But after that incident the 67 year’s Chief Minister yet silent about the issue. 

Talking to Subash Chandra Majumder, General Secretary to Tripura State Govt undertaking EPF Pensioner’s Association, he said, “Before 6 months, High Court ordered the state govt. against a case filed in 2012 saying that the 40 heavy vehicles drivers’ scale to be hiked. The case was filed by 5 persons in 2012 on behalf of 40 persons, against which Tripura High Court announced its judgment in support of petitioners”.

Majumder further said, “Tripura Govt. although has hiked the scale of those who joined later, but it has not equaled the scale of those 40 pensioners”.

On Tuesday they raised voice with 4 demands :

1.     Govt. undertaking EPF Pensioners’ pensions to be equaled as the state govt. employees from 16/ 11/ 1995.

2.     Like other corporations, leave encashment to be given to TRTC,

3.     Including all the interest the owned gratuity money should be soon provided,

4.     High Court’s verdict on W.P. © No. 452 of 2012 should be followed.

According to pensioners, whereas the whole country is abided by EPF laws, this is only for Tripura that the pensioners are deprived. Due to the intentional step-motherly attitude of Manik Sarkar, State Govt employees & pensioners are  undergoing  terrible financial deprivation .

However, the agitating members of the Tripura State Government Undertaking EPF Pensioner’s Association demanded for the introduction of CCS Pension 1972 Scheme in Tripura Road Transport Corporation w.e.f 16-11-1995.

Pensioners also demanded to execute the long pending gratuity in favour of memorandum for the council of Minister vide memorandum no. F.1 (43) - GA (CAB) 2006 dates November 22, 2014.

Pensioner demands are going on since many years but getting no response the EPF pensioners on Sunday gheroued CM’s home in demand of their demands to be fulfilled.

It’s worthy to mention here that apart from EPF Pensioners, in Manik Sarkar’s era there are people who are provided with only Rs. 750/- per month instead of central guidelines. 

Although unbelievable, but it’s true that in Tripura still there are people, who are getting paid only Rs. 750/- as their pension, and demanding to increase their pension atleast to Rs. 3,000/-

Many home guards who are paid not even Rs. 1,000/- per month are left to die in poverty.

Many times pensioners raise voice but the state Govt. is least bothered about the economic-condition of the retired employment.