Pensioners stage protest over pending arrears in Ongole

APRPA members protest for pension arrears, demand higher minimum pension, cancellation of New Pension Scheme, and PRC arrears payment.

Members of the All Pensioners and Retired Persons Association (APRPA) staged a protest at the Collectorate on Tuesday, demanding the government pay their pension arrears. They claimed that the NDA government at the Centre and State had not fulfilled any of the poll promises made to the retired persons during the past seven months.

APRPA Prakasam district president G. Seshaiah said, “Despite being in power for seven months now, the NDA government has not resolved a single issue of the pensioners. We demand the Union government and Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) Board set minimum pension at ₹9,000 per month apart from the dearness allowance (DA).”

He said, “The option for higher pension should be implemented for all. Out of 17 lakh people who applied for higher pensions, only 18,000 were sanctioned. The 8th PRC [Pay Revision Commission] should be appointed immediately for Central government employees. Cancelling New Pension Scheme, and Old Pension Scheme should be restored.”

Ch. Ram Babu, general secretary of APRPA Prakasam district, urged the State government to appoint a commissioner for the 12th PRC from 2023 and declare interim relief (IR) of 30% immediately. “The medical reimbursement limit should be increased from ₹2 lakh to ₹5 lakh. The PRC arrears that have been pending since 2020 must be paid immediately,” he said.