Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, July 29: The retired employees of the J&K Waqf Board today staged a protest, demanding the release of pension benefits.
Several employees were seen protesting, holding placards, and urging the authorities, especially the Chairperson of the J&K Waqf Board, to look into the matter and resolve their issue.
Khalida Akhtar, daughter of one of the employees who took voluntary retirement after suffering a brain haemorrhage, said that for over two years, she has been running from pillar to post to get her father’s pension benefits, but to no avail.
“He worked for nearly two decades, and one day, while on duty, he suffered a brain haemorrhage. Doctors said that he wouldn’t be able to work for the next six months. I asked the Waqf authorities to transfer him somewhere nearby, but they did not budge, asking him to opt for voluntary retirement,” she said. Click here to watch video
She added that despite opting for voluntary retirement, the Waqf Board has not provided the pension benefits to her father, even after he suffered a heart attack following the brain haemorrhage.
“We have received nothing, and we are facing difficulties because he was the only breadwinner in the family. We are all sisters. I have been trying to meet the Chairperson of the Waqf Board, but I have not been allowed,” she said.
Another employee, who used to work as a cleric at a shrine located in Sonwar, said that regarding the issues they are facing, he has made a request to the Prime Minister as well as the Home Minister.
” Chairperson Waqf Board must handle things with justice and work towards resolving the issues the retired employees are facing. Why are the board members silent? If anything untoward happens, the Waqf Board will be solely responsible for that,” he said.
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