Demand Single Installment Payment Instead of Delay Until 2028
Chandigarh: Doctors under the Pensioner Doctors Association, Punjab staged a protest against the Punjab government’s decision to pay pending pension arrears from January 2016 to June 2021 in installments extending until September 2028.
Doctors Slam Government Priorities
Addressing the protest, association president Dr. D.C. Sharma, vice-president Dr. D.S. Bhullar, and other senior members criticized the government for prioritizing excessive advertising expenses over the financial struggles of retired doctors. They demanded the immediate release of arrears in a single installment, rather than stretching payments over 42 months.
Dr. Surinder Singla, Chest Specialist and State General Secretary of the Pensioner Doctors Association Punjab, voiced his frustration on social media, calling the installment plan “absurd” and a “cruel joke.” He urged the government to clear arrears this year instead of delaying payments.
Agitation to Intensify
Protestors pointed out that arrears under the 6th Punjab Pay Commission have already been pending for 66 months. While officials cite state financial distress as the reason for the delay, the association strongly opposes this justification. The pensioner doctors have vowed to extend protests to other districts in collaboration with other pensioners’ and employees’ organizations until their demands are met.
