In a strong show of discontent, the Jammu & Kashmir Civil Society Forum and Pensioners United Front held a one-day General Council meeting today at the central office in Gojibagh, chaired by its president and chairman, Abdul Qayoom Wani.
The meeting was attended by leaders, office bearers, and executive members, who unanimously expressed serious concern over the prolonged delay in releasing gratuity, commutation, leave salary, and pensions, despite repeated representations made to the government.
Wani, addressing the gathering, criticized the government’s “apathetic and anti-employee” stance, stating that pensioners and retired employees are being treated like “bonded labourers.” He emphasized that the continuous delays in the implementation of court orders—particularly those related to the excess deduction of commutation loans—reflect the government's indifference to senior citizens' and employees' grievances.
A particularly grave issue highlighted was the monthly deductions being made by the Finance Department without releasing the corresponding commutation loan amounts, which Wani termed a “gross violation of rights and justice.”
Wani also condemned the discrimination in the disbursement of medical allowances, drawing comparisons with pensioners in Ladakh and other parts of the country who receive better benefits.
“The Senior Citizens Act of 2017 continues to gather dust in Jammu & Kashmir, while senior citizens in other parts of India are enjoying its benefits,” Wani said, demanding its immediate implementation in the Union Territory.
Calling the government’s delay in resolving these critical issues “intolerable,” Wani appealed to all pensioners and senior citizens to come out of their comfort zones and unite in a collective, result-oriented struggle for the restoration of their rights and dignity.
Wani also warned of a potential move by the Centre to exclude pensioners from the benefits of the upcoming 8th Pay Commission, urging vigilance and nationwide coordination to resist such “great injustice.”
Concluding the meeting, he instructed all leaders, provincial and central office bearers, and executive members to intensify organisational activities to meet the expectations of lakhs of pensioners and senior citizens across Jammu and Kashmir.
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