SHILLONG, June 28: The state government has finally addressed the issues of MeECL pensioners whose fervent appeals and proposed dharna, slated for Monday to protest against the non-release of their pension, had failed to evoke response from authorities until today.
On Monday, the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Limited (MeECL) released an amount of Rs 24 crore to pay off the pending pension of the corporation’s pensioners pertaining to the months of April and May.
Bemused by the inaction of the government on the issue, the MeECL Pensioners’ Association called on the CMD of the corporation, Arunkumar Kembhavi, on Monday to discuss their problems with the latter.
After the meeting, the outgoing CMD informed media persons said that he has released the pension funds for April and May.
“As an interim relief on humanitarian grounds since thousands of pensioners and their families are suffering, I have released two months’ pension today,” Kembhavi said.
On the other hand, president of the pensioners’ association Marius Kharkongor informed the media that Kembhavi has committed to pay the two-month pension within this week, while adding that the meeting was positive.
It may be recalled that the aggrieved pensioners’ under the banner of the association, had planned to stage a dharna over the issue, which was subsequently called off.
“He has requested us to call off the dharna today so based on his commitment, we want to cooperate with the management and we have decided to call off the dharna. But if nothing positive comes within this week, then we will have to again schedule the next course of agitation,” said Kharkongor.
