J&K pensioners demand release of 3% DA, hike in medical allowance, and pending arrears clearance

• Pensioners’ body urges government to raise medical allowance to ₹1,000 and regularize daily wagers

SRINAGAR, Oct 8: The Pensioners and Senior Citizens Welfare Society of Jammu and Kashmir has urged the government to release the pending 3 percent Dearness Allowance (DA) installment due from July 2025, ahead of the Diwali festival, for both employees and pensioners. The demand was raised by the society’s president, Mir Ghulam Rasool Botwani, during a meeting held in Srinagar today, where members expressed concern over the delay and its impact on the fixed-income group of retired employees.

Botwani said the government’s announcement of DA enhancement must translate into timely relief for pensioners who rely on such revisions to cope with inflation. “The delay in releasing the 3 percent DA installment has caused disappointment among thousands of pensioners who were expecting the amount before Diwali. The government should ensure its immediate release to bring much-needed respite to senior citizens and retired employees,” he said.

The meeting also put forth several long-pending demands, including an increase in the medical allowance from the existing ₹300 to ₹1,000 per month, in line with the Central Government and the Union Territory of Ladakh. The society urged that this enhancement be made effective retrospectively from April 1, 2020, to ensure parity and fairness. Members argued that while pensioners in other regions are already receiving the higher allowance, their counterparts in J&K continue to be neglected, despite repeated representations to the authorities.

Among other key demands were the regularization of daily wagers, contractual employees, Anganwadi workers, and SPOs, and the reduction of the commutation recovery period from 15 years to 10 years, a move that would provide financial relief to aged pensioners. The society also called for the enhancement of monthly pension benefits starting from the age of 65 years instead of the current 80 years, citing rising healthcare expenses and the growing cost of living.

Additionally, the members pressed for the release of 18 months of DA arrears that were withheld during the COVID-19 period, stating that the backlog continues to burden retirees. The society urged the government to issue formal orders for the implementation of the 8th Pay Commission, which is due to take effect from January 1, 2026, ensuring that both serving employees and pensioners benefit simultaneously.

Botwani emphasized that senior citizens and pensioners deserve recognition for their lifelong contributions to public service. “The government must treat this as a welfare issue, not just a financial matter. Timely DA release, medical allowance parity, and pension enhancement are essential measures to uphold dignity and security in old age,” he said.

The meeting concluded with an appeal to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and the Finance Department to address these concerns promptly and bring J&K’s pensioners at par with their counterparts across India.