Kohima, Nov 23 (MExN): Standing in long queues for long hours while waiting to draw pension, absence of seat to rest in some partially lighted crowded rooms, struggling for a ticket/seat in public conveyance (bus) and that too, on payment of full fare, suffering without accommodation in Nagaland Houses while going out of Nagaland on medical treatment.
These are some of the areas that pensioners are facing irritants that may appear minor to others, but are major to them, said Nagaland Pensioners Association (NPA) president Kiremwati.
Under the present system of administration, he said, the management of pensions lies with the office of the Accountant General, a central office over which the Government of Nagaland has no direct control.
“Under this arrangement, the pensioners are the worst sufferers. After retirement, a pensioner finds it time taking, embarrassing, and even expensive to finalize pension. This happens in spite of clear government notification to start processing pension six months ahead of retirement to enable availing the same from the day of retirement,” Kirewati said.
He lamented that many pensioners had passed away while waiting for years for their service-earned pension.
He added that remedy to such problems would be found only when the state government creates a separate department/directorate of pension.
One classic example of the present problem, he said, is the grant of arrears pension to pensioners/family pensioners effective from 1st June 1998 with cash benefit from 1st April, 2000. The government has notified the grant in February, 2005.
However, he regretted, till today even after ten months, no pensioner has received his /her arrears pension.
“This is due to no fault of any, but defective system and wrong agency of management of pensions, “he continued. At present, there are approximately 20,000 state civil pensioners and family pensioners spread all over Nagaland and beyond. It leant that the government spends about Rs. 35 crore annually on payment of pension.
In the meantime, a handbook on compulsory introduction of Identity Card-D for pensioners and family pensioners for withdrawal of pension was released by the Nagaland Governor Shyamal Datta this morning during the annual general meeting of the NPA in the Zonal Council Hall, Kohima.
The idea behind the publication is to eliminate or at least reduce fake pensioners and false withdrawal of pension, according to NPA. It is learnt that 1067 fake pensioners were detected during 2003.
