Panjim: As the government is dishing out doles to people across the spectrum – right from motorcycle pilots, to seamen and people who were affected when mining closed down –it has withdrawn a central government directed upward revision of pension of some 3000 odd of its government servants after first issuing an order that their pension would be revised. According to sources, the revision would have resulted in an increase of around Rs 3000 per month to each pensioner effective from 1996 onwards, giving each pensioner an approximate average of Rs 6.48 lakhs, till 2014.
Significantly, it took the government of Goa close to two years to adopt the Government of India memorandum on revision, which it withdrew in exactly eight months.
Shockingly, many retired pensioners had applied for this upward revision with a lot of hope, only to be denied the increase.
On November 9, 2011, the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions issued an Office Memorandum to implement the upward revision of pension as per the fifth pay commission, initially meant for pre-1986 pensioners. However the November 9 memorandum, included pre-1996 pensioners. Para 2 of the Memo stated “It has now been decided that in case any pre-1996 pensioner/family pensioner submits application for revision of pension/family pension….the same may be revised wef 1/1/96 without insisting on any deadline for the purpose”.
On September 3, 2013, almost four years later, the government decided to adopt the Central Government decision. On May 5, 2014 Ajit Pawaskar, Under Secretary Finance withdrew his earlier Office Memorandum, “with immediate effect”, denying roughly 4000 pensioners/family pensioners the increased pension.
When Ajit Pawaskar was contacted he was brusque and sounded irritated as he said “I would not like to comment on anything at this moment as I’m busy with assembly matters. Call me once assembly session is over”.
Many pensioners from Goa had applied to the director of accounts giving all their details to the directorate of accounts for the revision of pension.
M N Bhartiya, who retired as director fisheries said “I don’t understand why government is against pensioners, who have served the state for past several years. People feel that being pensioners means less expenditure. But I will tell them that we are spending more. I spend nearly Rs 5000 only on medicines per month apart from other expenses.”
Another retired senior official attached with forest department, who requested anonymity said that the decision to withdraw the notification without even any prior notice, is an affront to the sensibilities of the pensioners who gave their best years in the service of the government of Goa. “I am one among those pensioners who had submitted all the details to government as sought by them. The pensioners association needs to take up the matter. It is sad that the pensioners are not united, they are scattered,” he said.
