Title - : Railway pensioners seek better deal

The Railway Pensioners’ Federation has unanimously adopted a resolution urging the Railway Administration to immediately merge 50 per cent Dearness Relief (DR) in basic pension.The 23{+r}{+d}annual convention of the federation was held here on Sunday.Additional Divisional Railway Manager C. Madhusudhana Rao participated as chief guest.A total of 12 senior-most pensioners were felicitated on the occasion.Federation general secretary R. Narasimha Murthy noted that the V Pay Commission had recommended that whenever Dearness Relief exceeded 50 per cent, the same has to be merged with basic pension.The VI Pay Commission has, however, not any made any such recommendation though the present Dearness Relief is 65 per cent thus putting the pensioners to financial loss.The other resolutions adopted include: raising of the minimum ex-gratia pension to Rs.3,500, and revision of the pension for pensioners/family pensioners.