News Flash
02 October
Reported: Vishal Mayur
Protestors gather at Freedom Park seeking revised financial benefits for retirees from 2022-2024
Bengaluru: Thousands of retired Karnataka state government employees gathered at Freedom Park on Wednesday, under the banner of the Karnataka Retired Employees Forum, to demand the implementation of retirement benefits under the 7th Pay Commission. The convention saw participation from employees across various departments, including education, health, and security, all seeking financial relief and parity with active employees.
The forum highlighted that the state government had implemented the 7th Pay Commission for both serving and retired employees, congratulating the government for extending these benefits. However, the retired employees who served between July 1, 2022, and July 31, 2024, claim they have not received the full financial facilities like DCRG, commutation, and EL encashment, based on the revised pay scale.
Out of the 17,963 employees who retired during this period, 40 percent were teachers, 12 percent health department staff, 10 percent security personnel, and the rest from other state departments. The retired employees expressed their financial struggles, noting that many had retired under outdated salary structures, leading to significant financial loss despite decades of service.
They explained how the financial benefits, which typically assist in post-retirement expenses like housing, family obligations, and healthcare, have not been fully provided under the revised pay scales. They requested the government to correct this situation by implementing the revised pay scales retroactively, ensuring financial justice for retirees.
The forum emphasized that correcting this issue would benefit more than one lakh individuals across the state, as retirees often support their families, with an average of five dependents per household. They also noted that the government could mitigate its financial burden by allowing a 60 percent commutation loan, with retirees agreeing to repay an additional 56 percent.
The retired employees urged the government to reconsider the 7th Pay Commission order and issue a revised directive, granting them the same financial benefits as active employees to address the ongoing financial hardships.