Prayagraj: A meeting of the United Forum of Pensioner Welfare Association, Prayagraj, was held today at Yogendra Pandey’s residence, 201, Bhusauli Tola, Prayagraj, under the chairmanship of Sushil Kumar Srivastava. The meeting was conducted by Yogendra Kumar Pandey. Uday Shankar Srivastava said that the government should take the demands of pensioners seriously. Dinesh Arya advised the government to adopt a sympathetic attitude towards the demands, otherwise he threatened to intensify the movement.

Ramkishore reiterated his resolve to continue the agitation until the demands are met. Ramlal Chacha, Uday Chand Sonkar, Ramesh, Harishchandra, Raju, and Ashok Kumar also expressed their views. Yogendra Pandey demanded the immediate withdrawal of the Validation Act, the reinstatement of the old pension system, the reinstatement of previously granted concessional rail and air travel privileges for senior citizens, the immediate release of 18-month frozen DRs, the end of privatization and outsourcing, and the reduction of working hours, the immediate restoration of cashless benefits, the provision of permanent government jobs to youth, and the provision of cashless pensions and health services to journalists upon reaching superannuation. Journalists are the fourth pillar of our democracy; everyone else receives pensions, and it is unfortunate that they are being treated step-motherly. In his presidential address, Sushil Kumar Srivastava demanded a 3.87% fitment table based on five units. He stated that pensioners’ pensions are not unfunded or uncontributory; they are their earned right. He also demanded 20% interim relief, 50% dearness allowance added to the basic pension before the Eighth Pay Commission report is released, and AIIMS in Prayagraj and a holiday/happy home. He strongly appealed to those present to participate in the demonstration at Jantar Mantar on October 9th. He expressed his heartfelt gratitude and thanks to all the distinguished pensioners who had come. Everyone congratulated Ramesh Ji on his birthday and garlanded him. Dinesh Arya, Ram Kishore, Virendra Pandey, and Yogendra Pandey sang beautiful songs, drawing applause from all. Present on the occasion were Dwarka Prasad, Amar Singh, K.K. Srivastava, Vishwanath Prajapati, P.N. Dubey, Rajkumar Asthana, and R.S. Gupta, Milind, Nama Nigar, Virendra Kumar Pandey and Javed Akhtar, etc. eminent pensioners were present.