Revise pensions for Fertiliser Corporation of India retirees

The Fertiliser Corporation of India Ltd, a Central public sector unit, was closed in April

1999 on the plea that it was incurring losses. The wage revisions due to employees in 1992 and

1997 were stalled despite the apex court’s judgment that revision of wages is a right and should not be linked with profit or loss of the company. The terminal benefits were paid on the bases of

1987 wages in 2002. The retirees’ appeal to fix a minimum pension at `7,500 per month taking into consideration the two stalled wage revisions has been ignored.

I am 70 years old and retired as a senior officer under the Voluntary Separation Scheme in Ramagundam Fertiliser Factory (RFF) in Telangana state and my pension is `639 per month since 2002 after 30 per cent commutation. Thousands of my colleagues are on the same footing.

The government promised to effect the two stopped wage revisions if the RFF was revived. It has now been revived with an investment of `6,000 crore and will commence commercial production from July as confirmed by Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao. So where is our pension revision? The government pays more than `2,000 as social welfare pensions but we are not eligible for any such facility.

Other appeals such as medical benefits in ESI hospitals, periodical DA, return of commuted pension, terminal benefits on adhoc payment have been left untouched. How long should we wait? Our end is nearing but none is hearing our cries. — N.S.R. Murthy

Bolaram, Secunderabad Ph: 94900 56843