We have about 30,000 pensioners in Nagaland. Those are the people who had sacrificed their prime of life to the service of the people. Specially, the part they played for the formation of the Nagaland State is unforgettable. It is those people who remained loyal to the Govt despite all the harassments and humiliation specially during the last Naga operation. The yeomen’s service they rendered towards the building of the nation and particularly, the initiative they had taken for formation of the Nagaland State in its initial period is highly commendable.
Many highly qualified experienced and talented people are there in the pensioners community ready to offer their experience and skills for the benefits of the people which are just wasted as the Govt do not properly utilize them for the benefits of the society as a whole. However, their talents and skills are being utilized by the respective village authorities for the benefit and other developmental works in the village. They are treated as VIPs in the village. The role they play for awareness in the village, the yeomen’s service they rendered to the people and the developmental works they initiated in the village are very commendable and praiseworthy.
It is said that pensioners are the king makers. No members in the village casts their vote without being consultation and advice by the pensioners. They are more important during the election hours who become main agent/advisers etc in the election affairs. However, it is unfortunate that, after the election, where about of the so called king makers are not known. Their confidence is not taken into account. Their yeomen’s service for the upliftment of the people are just ignored and don’t taken into consideration. Their commendable services to the nation throughout the prime of their life are not taken into consideration. The roles they play during the sun set glow of their life are all forgotten and not taken into account.
The pensioners’ plight are more added because of the deprivation of the benefit of the 6th Central RO effective from 01.01.06. The entire states all over the country including all our neighbouring North East States have all effected by the ROP. However, though Nagaland Govt have adopted and following the CCS (P) Rules 72 in tata for the purpose of pension of its own retired employees, they are being deprived of its entitlement of the 6th CROP. Besides, the Nagaland Govt retired employees are still due the benefit of the VCROP effective from 01.01.06 to 31.03.2000 (51 months). The Supreme Court judgement dt.17.12.1982 between Nakra and the Union of India is a landmark in the evolution of the pension structure in the history of pensioners’ movement in India. An abstract of the judgement order is reproduced below for reference as under:
“Pensioners who have given the best part of their life in the service of the people are required to get a fair and just treatment by all those who are occupying the chairs in the Govt office. They should not forget that, one day they would also retire. No civilized country can boast of a welfare state unless the senior citizens are respected and look after properly”.
The welfare and requirement of the pensioners including the CROP arrears are required to be attended by the authority on priority. However, though our legitimate rights and interests are required to be protected, in our old age, we cannot shout our demands. We cannot hear nor see properly. Many of our colleagues are no more and died while counting their ROP arrears hopefully. Besides, many colleagues are lying on their dying beds praying to get their last share of ROP benefits. The authority, therefore, may kindly attend to the legitimate rights of the aged pensioners and look into their grievances.
Lanotemsu, Dimapur
