The Pensioners Forum of India (BMS) has demanded the release of Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) dues of Central Government employees and pensioners at the earliest. Let us know what is written in this letter.
New Delhi: There is big news for pensioners. The Pensioners Forum of India (BMS) has written a letter to the government to release the arrears of Dearness Allowance (DA) and Dearness Relief (DR) of Central Government employees and pensioners at the earliest. The forum has also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in this regard. Significantly, due to the Kovid-19 epidemic, the Finance Ministry in April last year had stopped the increase in DA till June 30, 2021.
After a long wait, in July this year, the government has increased the DA and DR to 28 per cent. 48 lakh employees and 65 lakh pensioners have got the benefit of this decision of the central government. No arrears of DA and DR were released to Central Government employees and pensioners. Therefore the pensioners have requested the Prime Minister for intervention.
letter to PM Modi
In a letter to the Prime Minister, BMS said, ‘You are requested to intervene in this matter. You should direct the Ministry of Finance to release the withheld DA/DR for the period from January 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021 at the earliest. We will be extremely grateful for immediate action in this regard.
Employees and pensioners have not received payment yet
“Retail inflation has increased during the period of moratorium on DA/DR as well as the prices of vehicle fuels, edible oils and pulses have reached record highs,” the letter said. The forum said that the purpose of payment of DA/DR is to compensate for the increase in the cost of living of the employees and pensioners. Now that this cost has increased, it would be unfair not to pay it to the employees and pensioners.
Pensioners need money
The letter further said, ‘Most of the pensioners are older people. In such a situation, they need money for medical treatment. Also, due to the Kovid-19 crisis, the prices of most things have increased manifold. The income of most pensioners is such that they can only feed their stomach. The forum said, ‘There is no doubt that the country is going through a financial crisis. Most of the pensioners have contributed one day’s pension to the Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Emergency Relief Fund (PM-CARES).
