The Hindu : DA to pensioners: Govt. to re-examine issue

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 31, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad

DA to pensioners: Govt. to re-examine issue

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD March 30. The Finance Minister, Y. Ramakrushnudu, on Saturday gave an assurance to the Assembly during question hour that the Government would re-examine the issue of releasing Dearness Allowance to pensioners. This followed insistence of several members from Opposition benches, including BJP members that pensioners be treated liberally as they had rendered service to society and were unable to face the onslaught of spiralling prices.

The Minister said that the Pay Revision Commission 1999, did not mention anything on sanction of DA to pensioners, but when Asaduddin Owaisi of the MIM, N. Narsimhaiah of the CPI (M), P. Laxmaiah and D. Nagender of the Congress and N. Indrasena Reddy of the BJP persisted with their demand, he agreed to re-examine the issue.

The members insisted that those in the evening of their life should not be deprived of the DA benefit and it should not be treated as a burden.

Housing plots to MLAs: Mr. Ramakrushnudu also assured the members that he would convey the "mood of the House'' to the Chief Minister on the issue of allotment of residential plots to the members who did not posses.

Raising the issue, V. Purushotham Reddy of the Congress said as TDP members too were benefited by the decision in the past and bought plots, there was nothing wrong in extending the facility to the new members. BJP members too agreed with the suggestion that plots should be given at Jubilee Hills. Many members from the Opposition benches stood up demanding positive consideration of their plea. However, on the complaints against Sri Venkateswara Cooperative House Building Society Limited for A.P. Legislators and the Vijaya Cooperative Society Limited, the Minister said enquiry had been conducted against them and action was being initiated. The cooperative societies could acquire suitable land for the sake of new members, he said.

Ex gratia: N. Narsimhaiah of the CPI (M) sought ex gratia to farmers whose crops suffered extensive damage in three villages of Nalgonda district on Friday night due to hailstorm.

Depositors' fears allayed: The Minister for Cooperation, Ch.Ramachandra Rao, assured the members that depositors of the Praja Cooperative Urban Bank would not lose money as there was insurance cover. To a question by G. Appala Suryanarayana of the TDP, the Minister replied that as the managing committee of the bank had committed certain irregularities, statutory inspection was ordered and the chairman of the bank was disqualified. An in charge official had been appointed. The Reserve Bank of India also had issued a show-cause notice for the liquidation of the bank, he said.

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