Staff Reporter Dimapur, August 18
Some good news for senior retired State government employees. The State government will increase pension benefits to 80 years and above. The additional quantum of benefits which varies from 20% upto 100% will also vary with the age of the beneficiaries. This decision was announced by the State government vide Finance Department Notification No. FIN/RCIP/VI-PC/1/2008 dated Kohima the 16th February 2010. According to the government’s notification, the additional quantum of pension benefit for pensioners from 80 to 85 years will be 20% of serviced basic pension/family pension, while for beneficiaries from 85 to 90 years will be 30% of revised basic pension/family pension; from 90 to 95 years will be 40% of serviced basic pension/family pension; from 95 to 100 years will be 50% of serviced basic pension/family pension; and from 100 or more will be 100% of revised basic pension/ family pension. Speaking to Eastern Mirror, general secretary of the Nagaland Pensioners’ Association, S Daikho, has informed about non receipt of the benefits in most districts while also admitting that some districts have availed the facilities. He attributed non-compliance of the prescribed norms as one reason for not getting the benefits. The SBI is the disbursing authority for making payment to the beneficiaries. In this regard, Daikho has directed respective presidents of the district pensioners’ associations to disseminate information to the beneficiaries to enable them to avail the facilities. He has also directed all beneficiaries to contact the respective district president along with a copy of Pension Pay Order (PPO) for arrangement of necessary formalities for early disposal of the benefits. Meanwhile, Daikho has also informed pensioners/family pensioners to apply for grant of additional pension to the disbursing authority for necessary consideration as and when any member attains the prescribed age.