Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 15: Sanjay Kothari, Secretary, Department of Pension, Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances, Union Ministry of Personnel today said that Union Health Ministry has been approached for empanelment of more hospitals across the country to provide health care facilities to the pensioners.
Addressing first ever Pensioners’ Awareness Programme at Police Auditorium here this morning, Mr Kothari said, “keeping in view the difficulties being faced by the Central Government pensioners in getting health care facilities, the Ministry of Personnel, PG and Pensions has approached the Union Health Ministry for empanelment of more hospitals across the country and we are hopeful of positive response in near future”.
Pointing towards the demand of day care centre for the pensioners in Jammu and Kashmir, the Secretary said, “though this demand doesn’t fall in the domain of our Ministry, we will take up the issue with the Social Justice Ministry and try to get this demand conceded”, adding “we are also trying to resolve other grievances of the Central Government pensioners in the coming months and regular meetings in this regard are being held with the concerned departments of the Union Government”.
“There is lack of awareness among the pensioners with regard to their rightful dues, especially among those residing in far off places and the aim of organizing first ever mega workshop-cum-programme is aimed at creating awareness among the pensioners about initiatives of the department and to listen the problems and hurdles of pensioners face to face”, he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Tripti P Ghosh, Director, Department of Pension and Pensioners’ Welfare, said, “the department has formulated pension policy for timely and smooth payment of pension and other retirement benefits. For this, constant review of rules/regulations and procedures facilitating prompt redressal of grievances has been put in place”, adding “the department has also come up with Pensioners’ Portal for awareness among the pensioners besides serving as an avenue for on-line registration of their grievances”.
A large number of Central Government pensioners and family pensioners from nearly 25 central services including All India Services and para-military forces attended the workshop and many of them participated in the open session and received clarification and guidance on various pension related issues.
Former Director General of J&K Police, Kuldeep Khoda, who was recently appointed as first Chief Vigilance Commissioner of the State, V P Sharma, patron of Central Government Pensioners’ Welfare Association, Jammu, S S Wazir, president of the Association and J K Vaid, general secretary also spoke on the occasion.
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