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Dharamshala: The triennial elections of the Pensioners’ Welfare Association, District Kangra, concluded today under the supervision of election officer Bhup Ram Verma and supervisors Madan Lal Sharma, Ganga Ram Sharma, and Deep Raj Sharma. Suresh Thakur was unanimously re-elected as the president of the association. During the election proceedings, Suresh highlighted the significant achievements of the organization over the past term, noting that six new blocks and four new city units were formed to expand the association’s reach and service to its members.
There are over 10,000 active workers in Kangra district. In his speech, Suresh Thakur expressed concerns about the state government’s biased treatment of pensioners, particularly within the association. He criticized Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu for treating pensioners as second-class citizens, highlighting the ongoing neglect and unfairness faced by the community.
Expressing disappointment over the delayed pension payments to pensioners from Kangra, Una, Mandi, and Hamirpur districts, Suresh Thakur stated that the delay was a result of strikes and unrest caused by the union members. He emphasized that the pensioners had been subjected to unnecessary hardship due to these issues.
Suresh Thakur stated that the government has been delaying the payment of financial liabilities related to the revised pay scale of January 1, 2016, causing prolonged struggles for pensioners. He criticized the government for repeatedly neglecting the concerns of pensioners, pointing out that their issues have been consistently overlooked. He also expressed disappointment that pensioners were once again excluded from the recently introduced budget.
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