Hoshiarpur- The State Representative-cum-Election Session of Punjab State Pensioners Federation was successfully concluded at Punjab Pensioner Bhawan, Mini Secretariat, Ludhiana under the chairmanship of the State President of the Federation, Karam Singh Dhanoa. The Board of Presidents included Bakshish Singh Chief Advisor, Madan Gopal Sharma Patron, Javand Singh Senior Vice President, Pyara Singh Senior Vice President and State Chief Spokesperson Raj Kumar Arora, besides the presidents of twenty districts of Punjab.
In this session, apart from the presidents of twenty districts, the hall was packed with more than 400 representatives of about 90 units. State Press Secretary of the Confederation, Balbir Singh Saini told the press that this session was dedicated as a tribute to the late leader of the Confederation, S. Mahendra Singh Parwana, on his death anniversary. After this, 2 minutes of silence was also observed and flowers were offered to the pensioner colleagues who passed away recently.
After this, State General Secretary Kulwaran Singh openly threw light on the struggles done during the last two years and the pensioner-killing policy of the Punjab Government and presented a detailed work report regarding the struggles done in the last two years and the organizational activities and in the general session of the representatives, the General Secretary presented 5 proposals in the House.
1. Punjab State Pensioners Confederation will continue its efforts at every level to solve the demands and problems of the pensioners and their families.
2. Believing in joint struggles, the Confederation will continue to participate in the "Punjab Government Pensioners United Front" and "Punjab Employees Pensioners United Front" and will contribute as much as possible in the ongoing joint struggles. 3. As per the notification of Punjab Government dated 18-2-25, the payment of arrears of 'Sixth Pay Commission' from 1-1-16 to 30-6-21 to pensioners in installments till September, 2028 is condemned and it is appealed that this arrears be given to the pensioners immediately in lump sum.
4. The non-fulfillment of long pending demands of pensioners by the Punjab Government is condemned and it is demanded that the pension demands be settled as soon as possible.
5. The development tax of Rs 200 per month imposed by the Punjab Government under the Act 2018 is also being deducted by the banks from senior citizens pensioners.
Today's meeting condemns this and demands that the deduction of Rs 200 being made as development tax from all pensioners should be stopped immediately and the total amount deducted should be refunded immediately. After this, the financial report was also presented by Finance Secretary Prem Chand Aggarwal. The representatives expressed their views on both the reports and expressed satisfaction with both the reports and praised them profusely.
Both the reports were passed unanimously by the present pensioners amidst thunderous applause without any opposition or amendment. During his address, State President Karam Singh Dhanoa thanked all the pensioners of Punjab for the support given during the struggles. Taking the government to task, he said that he has requested many times but the government has been running away from the talks every time. Due to which all the pensioners are sad and disappointed with the pensioner-killing policies of the government.
He said that he has requested a lot and now we will try our best. He also raised both hands and sought approval from the House on the 5 proposals presented by the General Secretary, which were unanimously approved by all the pensioners by raising both hands. After this, the state president dissolved the executive and the already constituted election committee panel consisting of Mr. Madan Gopal Sharma as convenor, Mr. Jagdish Singh Sarao as member and Mr. Savinder Singh Aulakh as member was given the platform to conduct new elections for the next two years 2025-27.
Convenor Madan Gopal Sharma held a meeting of the presidents of all the districts present in a separate room. After the meeting, selection committee panel convenor Madan Gopal Sharma reached the open pandal and told the representative pensioners' house that during the meeting, the district presidents unanimously agreed to re-appoint Mr. Karam Singh Dhanoa as the state president, Mr. Kulwaran Singh Hoshiarpur as the general secretary and Mr. Madan Lal Mannan Amritsar as the finance secretary. He demanded from the house that if the house agrees with the decision taken by the district presidents, then this election should be held.