Prayagraj: The meeting of the United Forum of Pensioners Welfare Association, Prayagraj, was held at Yogendra Pandey’s residence at 201, Bhusauli Tola, Prayagraj, under the chairmanship of Sushil Kumar Srivastava. Yogendra Kumar Pandey conducted the meeting beautifully. Uday Shankar Srivastava said that 50% DR should be merged into the basic salary and 20% interim relief should be provided from January 1, 2026, until the Eighth Pay Commission report is released.
Ramkishore said that if the government doesn’t meet our legitimate demands, we will change the government. Rajesh Kumar demanded the withdrawal of the Validation Act and the immediate release of the DR withheld for 18 months. Abrar Ahmed said that instead of restoring the benefits previously provided to pensioners, the government is bent on severing their pensions. Ramlal Chacha, Ramesh, Harishchandra, Raju, and Ashok Kumar also expressed their views. Yogendra Pandey demanded that the government restore the old pension, provide travel concessions to senior citizens as before, immediately end privatization and publicize private institutions serving the public interest, immediately stop outsourcing, reduce working hours, immediately allow cashless access to employees, provide permanent government jobs to youth, and provide GPF as needed, as before. The facility to withdraw advances from the bank should be provided at any time as per the subscriber’s need, and pension and cashless health services should be made available to respected journalists. Journalists are the fourth pillar of our democracy, raising the voice of the most important suffering people. The other three pillars have already been receiving pensions, and therefore, they should also be given pensions. In his presidential address, Sushil Kumar Srivastava said that the old pension is not unfunded. Pension is our service-based right. AIIMS and a holiday home should be immediately established in the world-famous Prayagraj. Employees of departments that have not received the benefits of the Seventh Pay Commission should be given these benefits before the Eighth Pay Commission report is released. He thanked the pensioners present at the meeting. On Sushil Kumar Srivastava’s birthday, everyone congratulated him and garlanded him. Sweets were also distributed, courtesy of Rajesh Kumar. A two-minute silence was observed to commemorate the untimely demise of Ramesh’s brother. On this occasion, Dwarka Prasad, Amar Singh, Nama Nigar, Abrar Ahmed, Virendra Kumar Pandey and Javed Akhtar, etc. were present.
