Team Herald
MARGAO: Goa government pensioners said they are suffering because of negligence by the government.
Four and half years ago, Prime Minister had ordered to revise the Central & State pensions all over the country from Jan 1, 2016. It was a mandatory order and most States/UTs implemented it. However, the Governments of Goa under three successive Chief Ministers have allegedly failed to implement the order.
Dr Prakashchandra P. Shirodkar, a pensioner, said even in Goa, all Central Government pensioners benefitted from the revision. However, Goa Government under three CMs, late Manohar Parrikar, Laxmikant Parsekar and Dr Pramod Sawant has failed to implement the PM’s order.
“Probably Goa Government is hesitating to approach the Centre because of getting exposed for incompetence and inaction when no provision was made in the last five State annual budgets. The opposition is also silent on this issue,” he said.
Several Goan pensioners are no more, some octogenarians are critically ill with no other source of income except the amount which they received under past pay Commission.
As a result, thousands of families are going through a lot of stress because of lack of funds as they have to provide for the treatment of their aged parents, themselves, and their unemployed children.
Last year, the Pensioners Association appealed to the Goa Government which had agreed to release arrears of only one year i.e. 2019, but this has also not materialised, Shirodkar said.
