Goa’s Director of Accounts has submitted before the Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC) that in a bid to expedite disbursement of pension benefits the Government proposes to constitute a Pension Cell for timely settlement of revision cases, verification of services etc.
In his reply to the complaint filed over the inordinate delay in processing the pension papers of retiring government employees, the Director of Accounts G.P.Kanekar has stated that the staff of the pension section have been directed to work on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays to cope up with clearing pension and family pension cases. Outlining various difficulties faced by the Pension section, Mr. Kanekar has cited that submission of papers by the Head of the department without proper scrutiny and documentation is one of the cause for the delay in finalizing the pension benefits. Stating that it is proposed to impart training to heads of all departments including government aided educational institutions and Goa University through experienced retired accounts officers in preparation of pension cases and its timely settlement, Mr. Kanekar in his reply has further stated that the Accounts department is on the verge of issuing computerized pension payment orders thereby reducing the work of issuing them manually. Regarding the case of Mahadev Paryekar, a retired High Court peon who suicided in March this year, Mr. Kanekar has in his reply clarified that as the employees of the Bombay High Court at Goa are not employees of the State of Goa, the rules and regulations of the Maharashtra government are applicable to them. Pointing out that the department has always strived to deliver timely services, Mr. Kanekar in his reply has also submitted that the aim and motto of Directorate of Accounts is to provide pensionary benefits on the day the employee retires. In the complaint attention of the GHRC was drawn that many employees have to run from pillar to post to get their pension even months after their retirement. Pointing out that the hurdles and delay faced by a retiring employee in the processing of pension papers was unacceptable, it has been demanded that the head of every department should undertake the work of preparation of pension papers at least a year in advance before the date on which a government servant is due to retire. Retirement benefits are the accumulated savings of a lifetime of service and denial, non-payment or delayed payment tantamounts to denial of an individual’s rightful property. It is also a violation of the human rights of the retiring employees wherein their livelihood is affected, often resulting in untold misery and poverty. Every government employee should as a matter of right start receiving pension immediately on retirement. Aires Rodrigues Advocate High Court C/G-2, Shopping Complex Ribandar Retreat, Ribandar – Goa – 403006 Mobile No: 9822684372 Office Tel No: (0832) 2444012 Email: [email protected] Or [email protected] You can also reach me on Facebook.com/ AiresRodrigues Twitter@rodrigues_aires www.airesrodrigues.com
