Trains guns at Treasury
DIMAPUR, MARCH 16 (MExN): The Dimapur District Pensioner’s Association (DDPA) today issued a statement as to why pensioners in Dimapur are being charged Rs 2000 each to avail pending benefits.
A press note from the DDPA President, I Meren Longchar said that the amount being charged was on a voluntary basis and claimed that the money is neither for the DDPA fund nor for any individual gain.
It informed that though the state government has a senior treasury office to meet the needs of the pensioners, the refusal to accept the form for pre-01.01.2008 ROP for pension/family pension by the concerned department had prompted the DDPA to form a financial expert committee. It informed that the committee was formed to assist pensioners in sorting papers as demanded in Annexure II of the said form for onward submission to the concerned authority.
“If the forms are rejected due to defectiveness the amount shall be refunded,” the DDPA informed. The Rs 2000 being charged, the association added, “is solely for the working expense of the financial expert committee.” It further stated that pensioners can choose to either avail the DDPA facility or not.
The DDPA meanwhile asked the senior treasury office to identify that section which the former had said was dedicated to processing pension related matters. It said that this section and the concerned officials should be made clear “instead of letting mostly senior citizens to run from stairs to stairs.”
On the Treasury Office stating that it would not entertain forms issued by any outside authority, the DDPA said that it is only issuing the pre-2008 ROP forms that are being issued by the State Finance Department. “Hence there arises no doubt of any outside concerned authority. The senior treasury office is very much aware of the said form and the related paper works,” the DDPA stated.
It meanwhile assured that the DDPA when approached and asked by any member would assist, help and avail whatever pending benefits are due to them.
NPA says will inquire into ‘illegal’ collection
DIMAPUR, MARCH 16 (MExN): The Nagaland Pensioners’ Association (NPA) today said that it would enquire into the collection of Rs 2000 each from pensioners in Dimpaur by the Dimapur District Pensioner’s Association (DDPA). The NPA termed the collection as “illegal” and as "defaming and lowering the dignity of the association.”
A press release issued by NPA President, Rukhielhoulie Angami and General Secretary, Lecho Krocha informed that the Government of Nagaland by issue of a notification dated March 1, 2006 had authorized the NPA to issue Identity Card/Card-D to all Nagaland State Government Pensioners/Family Pensioners by charging Rs. 20 from each pensioner for initial issue of Identity Card/Card-D and Rs. 10 from each pensioner for annual renewal.
Due to escalated cost of stationery items year after year, the NPA said it had authorized the District/Sub-Unit Offices to charge Rs. 150 each for initial issue of Identity Card/Card-D and Rs. 150 each for annual renewal and submit Rs. 20 per pensioner to NPA annually for office maintenance. In this regard, it added that Rs. 200 per pensioner is charged as one-time collection for building fund.
Besides these specified collections, the NPA clarified that it never authorized any District/Sub-Unit office to enforce extra collection from the pensioners and asserted that the authority for revision of pension or any other pension benefits rest with the government and not with the Nagaland Pensioners’ District/Sub-Unit Offices.
