Pensioners, senior citizens highlight demands

Excelsior Correspondent

SRINAGAR, Nov 12: A meeting of Senior Citizens and Pensioners Welfare Society of district Ganderbal was today held at Bihama under the leadership of district president Noor Mohammed Sheikh in which the problems being faced by people in general and senior citizens in particular were highlighted.
The meeting was also addressed by State president of Society, Mir Ghulam Rasool Batvina, senior Trade Union Leaders, Haji Ghulam Nabi Prangi, Haji Ghulam Hassan, Syed Muzfar Ahmed Madni and Mohammed Subhan Dar. The meeting while expressing satisfaction over release of four percent DA in favour of employees and pensioners however demanded Rs 1000 Medical Allowance be sanctioned in favour of pensioners and employees of J&K UT as is given to Central Government employees and pensioners. It further demanded that the Allowance be enhanced after the age of 65 years and senior citizens of India be given all those facilities which are available to the senior citizens in developed countries.
The meeting demanded resumption of work on new Ganderbal Hydro Electric Project which is pending for last 20 years, transport facilities be provided to people and necessary equipments and machinery be provided to District Hospital, Ganderbal, improvement be made in power supply besides, the condition of roads be made better in the district, receiving stations of Dabwakura and Batvina be made functional, people be also given all basic facilities besides the daily wagers be regularised and their wages be enhanced to Rs 20,000 per month.
Later a delegation of Society called on Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal and submitted a memorandum highlighting these demands. It demanded that these issues be solved at an earliest.