Date:11/04/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/04/11/stories/2007041104010300.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Pensioners seek 6 % dearness relief

Special Correspondent

Pensioners' association stages dharna seeking `one-rank one-pension' benefit

DEMANDS: A dharna organised by the Kerala State Service Pensioners' Association in front of the Secretariat on Tuesday. — Photo: S. Mahinsha

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala State Service Pensioners Association with R. Prabhakaran Thampi as president and D. Aravindakshan as general secretary organised a dharna in front of the Secretariat on Tuesday to press a four-point charter of demands.

The demands included sanctioning of the `one-rank one-pension' benefit without further delay, extension of the pension revision benefits to those who retired between March 1, 2002, and July 1, 2004, also, revival of the pensioners medical benefit scheme and sanctioning of the 6 per cent dearness relief announced by the Centre from January 1, 2007, to the State pensioners also.

Meanwhile, the Kerala State Service Pensioners Association with K. Karunakaran Pillai as president and N. Krishnan Nair as general secretary demanded the appointment of a commission exclusively for pension revision. It wanted the `one-rank one-pension' benefit to be implemented in the manner in which the Centre had implemented it. It demanded the extension of pension revision to those who retired between March 1, 2002, and June 30, 2004, and the revival of the medical scheme. It resolved to observe April 12 as demands day to press these demands.