THE CALLOUS ATTITUDES OF BANKS IN DISBURSING DEFENCE PENSION

DISBURSEMENT OF DEFENCE PENSION

THE CALLOUS ATTITUDES OF THE BANKS.

Dear Veterans,

In a reminder dt. 23-06-2009 sent by Indian Ex-Services League, Punjab & Chandigarh to Deptt. of Defence Welfare, Govt. of India, New Delhi , league has expressed its anguish over the delayed and faulty implementation of various orders and notifications regarding the pension benefits of veterans. They are being killed inch by inch by such bureaucratic muddles.

In a specific case of Pay fixation of Ex- NK Janak Singh of Vill. Chamaru Distt. Patiala , Pension disbursing authority (Punjab National Bank Ghanaur) is paying him minimum pension instead of Nk's pension for the last about 15 years. After the implementation of recommendation of Sixth Central Pay Commission, he is being paid Rs. 66/- less than his actual pension which he should get as per his rank. He has written many request letters to his Records Office and PCDA (Pension), Allahabad but these seem to be fallen on deaf ears.

This is not a solitary case. But as per the survey conducted by the league's block level office bearers, about 20% PBORs, drawing pension directly from the banks, are not being paid correct amount of pension due to them. Most of the old veterans among the PBORs, being illiterate can not check their correct pension. Efforts made by Indian Ex-Services League in two such cases, Sub. Sher Singh (Retd.) of Patiala State Forces was found to have been paid Sepoy's Pension since the Fifth Pay Commission. The league got him correct pension of Subedar along with an arrears of Rs. 2,65,000/- a year before his death in June 2006, where as in the other case, Smt. Surinder Kaur, the widow of a Subedar of Amloh, was being paid the pension of Sepoy's widow. League got her also the correct pension along with an arrears of Rs. 85,000/- that too about a year before his death in Dec. 2007. Both were drawing pension directly from the Branches of State Bank of Patiala in their respective place of residence and have been requesting the Pension Disbursing Authorities to pay them correct pension for so many years but in vain.

There are numerous such cases lying un-detected / un-solved and the authorities concerned are not taking any remedial measure to disburse the correct pension to the individuals. The Sixth Pay Commission has added more ambiguities to its recommendations and staff dealing with the disbursement of pension are not properly trained. In case of additional pension provisioned by the recommendation of Pay Commission, most of the veterans are not in a position to receive the correct pension since their Date of Birth is not mentioned in their PPOs. Their requests to the respective Records Offices to correct the entry of their Date of Birth are not being attended promptly as if the said Records Offices are waiting for the demise of old veterans so that they can close their cases.

We all have to take up such cases of delayed action on the part of PCDA (Pension), Allahabad and Record Offices sacredly to get the veterans their due amount.

(Sgt. Prabhjot Singh Chhatwal PLS, Retd.)

President.

Indian Ex-Services League, Punjab & Chandigarh

Comment: Weldone Sgt.Prabhjot Singhji. Please conduct a Dharna in front of the Bank Branch with all your members and show it to the Press about the performance of these Banks with regard to Defence pension disbursement.