20 February Hoshiarpur- Punjab State Pensioners Confederation's State President Karam Singh Dhanoa and General Secretary Kulwaran Singh issued a joint press statement saying that the Finance Department (Finance Personnel-1 Branch) of the Punjab Government has issued letter number 03/1/2021-1 FP1/12 dated 18-2-20 25 to pay arrears from 1-1-2016 to 30-6-2021 after revision of salary/pension on the basis of 6th Pay Commission.
But it is a matter of great regret that while paying the arrears in installments to the pensioners of Punjab, their old age was not taken into consideration. According to the letter issued, the arrears will be paid to the pensioners/family pensioners till September 2028. Whereas the next 7th Pay Commission is constituted from 01-01-2026. It is the moral responsibility of the Government to clear the arrears of the previous Pay Commission before the next Pay Commission.
It is worth mentioning here with regret and great sorrow that more than 35000 pensioners have passed away while waiting for payment of arrears. The State leaders of Punjab State Pensioners Federation reject the above letter issued by the Government and strongly condemn this decision to pay the arrears in installments to the pensioners/family pensioners.
The leaders appealed to the Punjab Government to reconsider the above letter issued containing installments and ensure that the arrears are paid to the pensioners/family pensioners in one lump sum.