Press Statement dated 25-04-2020 by AIBDPA

AIBDPA oppose unjustified Dearness Relief cut by Central Government

All India BSNL – DOT Pensioners Association representing more than one lakh of pensioners retired from Department of Telecom and BSNL strongly opposes the drastic decision of the Central Government freezing Dearness Allowance / Dearness Relief due from 1st January 2020, 1st July 2020 and 1st January 2021 to the central and BSNL pensioners, in the name of financing Covid 19 situation.
The BSNL – DOT Pensioners as per the call of the Association has already donated to the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund or the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund according to their ability and about Rs. 50 lakh has already been paid through the Association or directly. In Kerala alone, Rs. 20 lakh has been paid to Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
The Pensioners and family pensioners are dependent upon their meagre pension and they are completely at the mercy of others having been restricted at home during lock down period. Many of these pensioners draw minimum pension which is insufficient even for day to day expenses, leave alone for purchase of medicines etc. BSNL Management has stopped medical allowance and reimbursement of medical treatment expenses for the last two years on the plea of lack of funds. It is at this crucial time that the decision to freeze DR for 18 months has been issued. The DR cut will be about Rs. 17,000 or more for a pensioner getting about Rs. 10,000 monthly pension, ie. about double of his monthly pension. This amount will increase according to the increase in pension which will put the pensioners to extreme difficulty.
It is to be noted that the same government, which wants to freeze the DA and DR of the low paid employees and pensioners, has been giving unjustified reduction in tax, relaxation in payment of dues to the government, writing off of NPAs etc. to the big corporates, amounting to lakhs of crores of rupees.
Under these circumstances, AIBDPA expresses its strong protest and demand the government to withdraw the order and continue to grant eligible DA /DR in due time. The Association has appealed to the Honourable Prime Minister to concede our demand and withdraw the unjustified order.

K.G.Jayaraj,
Secretary General, AIBDPA