CHENNAI: Hundreds of members of the State Express Transport Corporation’s (SETC) Retired Employees Welfare Association (REWA) protested at Pallavan House on Tuesday demanding prompt and proper payment of retirement benefits.
“Our pension is delayed and our dearness allowance (DA) has not been given in the last 18 months,” said K Veeraraghavan, secretary, Chennai chapter of REWA. He added that the problem existed all over the State. “The protest took place across the State, particularly in eight locations including Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli and Villupuram,” he said. According to the REWA members, their pension was not being credited on the first of the month making it difficult for them to pay rent and manage expenses. Veeraraghavan added that the dearness allowance (DA) had not been given to the staff the last three terms (1.5 years).
“We’re supposed to get dearness allowance of 136 per cent, but we’re only paid 119 per cent of the pension,” said Veeraraghavan.
The retired SETC staff also demanded that their medical benefits be allowed. “We are old and we took up a government job hoping for these benefits. It’s very hard to make ends meet when we don’t get what we’re promised,” said a 65-year-old retired staff who didn’t want to be named, fearing it might affect his pension.
“If the government gives us the benefits they legally agreed upon, most pensioners will get what they need,” said Veeraraghavan, adding that the association members were discussing with SETC to redress the situation.