DEFENCE PENSIONERS MUST KNOW THEIR PENSION

THE DEFENCE PENSIONERS MUST KNOW THEIR PENSION.

It has been observed with great concern that a large number of Defence pensioners (PBORs) including Honorary Rank officers just accept whatever the bank pays to them as pension. The position of a family pensioner is still worse.

The highly educated children of many defence pensioners don’t bother about to find out whether their parents are getting the correct pension.

The Exwel Trust volunteers, practically go to the residences of many family pensioners after getting the details of pensioners and addresses from the pension paying banks. Hardly one percent of the pensioner comes out of their own for help. They simply continue to accept whatever is paid by the bank.

The Trust conducted one pensioners meet to help the pensioners to get their correct pension and arrears. The response was better than expected. But the follow up by the pensioners was very poor. There were about 150 pensioners in one pensioners meet. It was not possible for the organizers of the meet to settle all the cases in one day. Therefore they have asked the pensioners to come on different dates. But most of the pensioners did not turn up to get their correct pension. If this is the attitude of the majority of the defence pensioners, the banks will continue to pay whatever the amount they feel like paying. The voluntary organizations like the Exwel Trust will not have any interest to proceed further in the matter.

Whatever the services done by the Trust was purely voluntary. Most of the pensioners helped by the Trust are widows above the age of 70. They cannot go to the bank and claim the pension arrears of their own. They cannot approach even the pension adalat. The pension adalats are mere eye wash.

The Exwel Trust had referred more than 15 cases to the SBI CPPC, Chennai. So far the bank had not even acknowledged the complaint. Most of them are Special Family pensioners. They are being paid a basic pension of Rs.3500 instead of Rs.7000 from 01.01.2006. We feel like sending legal notice to the bank. However we are afraid of the expenses involved on a legal procedure.

The Bank’s legal department seldom accepts the verdict of the lower court. They will not hesitate to drag the case to even supreme court. The banks may be able to spend any amount for the legal battle. But a poor pensioner cannot afford to spend.

It is high time that the Defence pensioners better know about their pension. Otherwise the Banks in due course may stop paying the pension.