Shimla. HRTC pensioners in Himachal Pradesh have yet to receive their September pensions. The non-disbursement of pensions, despite the 26th, has made it difficult for thousands of pensioners to meet daily expenses and afford medicines. Even at a comfortable age, pensioners are forced to take to the streets to protest against the government.
Approximately 8,000 HRTC pensioners in the state are facing monthly pension delays. Pensioners say they have not received their pensions on time for the past year, causing them to face financial hardship. Pensioners protested in Shimla, launching a protest against the government and warning that if their pensions are not released soon, they will be forced to launch a major movement.
Devraj Thakur, state president of the Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Pensioners Welfare Association, stated on Friday that last month’s August pension was disbursed on the 30th, and this time, the pensions have not been received until September 26th. Furthermore, medical bills have been pending for two years. Arrears and DA payments have also not been released yet. Thakur said that HRTC employees who retired after March 2024 have not received even a single rupee in pension.
He alleged that after a lifetime of service, pensioners are now forced to repeatedly plead with the government for their rights. The government is merely making false promises and keeping pensioners on the hook. He warned that if the government does not set a clear date for pension release, pensioners will intensify their agitation and will not hesitate to surround the Secretariat.
