ATRPFM takes note of 'pension benefits' story
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 21 2018: Taking note of the story under the heading "Money collected for 'pension benefits'?" published in The Sangai Express yesterday, the All Tribal Rights' Protection Forum Manipur has asserted that the report if true is a clear indication of corruption and cheating against thousands of employees who have been deprived of their rights to service pension by few individuals.

"We take the matter very seriously and the responsible persons/organisations are answerable to the public," said ATRPFM in a statement issued by its general secretary James Haokip today.

The report published by this newspaper had alleged that some people launched a drive of collecting money from teachers and staff of schools located within Kangpokpi district under Sadar Hills Autonomous District Council (SHADC) with the promise that they would be given pension benefits.

"It is estimated that there are around 3,000 employees in the hill districts under ADCs and if we multiply Rs 15,000 by 3,000 employees the amount comes at Rs 4,50,00,00 (Rupees four crore and fifty lakh only), which is a huge amount.

If the allegation is found to be true, it's a very serious matter and should be dealt with in accordance with law," said ATRPFM.

There are two-three organisations dealing with this particular matter - Pension for Employees of ADCs, informed ATRPFM and continued that the matter (pensions scheme) was endorsed to ATRPFM by All Manipur Autonomous District Council Retired Employees Association on July 2, 2018 with a request to assist them in securing service pension as mandated under relevant rules.

The Governor had framed Rules of Pension Scheme under Section 51(2)(vi) of the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971 for giving pension benefits to the ADC employees and a notification dated July 18, 1991 was released to that effect by the Commissioner (Hills), Govt of Manipur which was published in Manipur Gazette the same day.

The said rules were supposed to come into force on July 1, 1991.Again the same rules were re-notified by the Principal Secretary to the Govt of Manipur on August 29, 2006 which was to come into force from February 28, 2006 .

The Governor further amended the rules of pension schemes by a notification dated January 8, 2007 which was published in the Manipur Gazette on January 30, 2008, said ATRPFM.

"Accordingly, we have been pursuing the matter with the Govemor of Manipur, Chief Minister, Chairman of HAC, Minister (TA & Hills), Finance Secretary, etc by wayof submitting memorandum, representation and personal meetings and there is almost apositive result.

There is a clear progress and we are grateful to the authorities concerned for their prompt action as mandated under relevant laws and rules," said ATRPFM and continued that the report of illegal collection of money has disturbed them.

Unfortunately some groups of people are trying to take credit of the works of ATRPFM and are taking advantage by collecting money from the employees.

There were reports of collection of money from different quarters since many years.

A joint meeting with two organisations was also called after meeting the Governor on October 19 with a request that all the organisations who work on matters related to pension should come together.

The meeting could not bring a solution as a 'particular group' sought time to discuss the matter with its members.

The organisations affirmed that they are not involved in the collection of money, said ATRPFM and appealed group(s) concerned which collected money to clarify on the matter at the earliest.

Meanwhile, All Manipur Autonomous District Council Retired Employees Welfare Association (AMADCREWA) has clarified that it has no knowledge and connection with the money collection in any manner.

Saying it has no knowledge of such activities of collecting money from teachers and staff of schools located within Kangpokpi district under Sadar Hills Autonomous District Council (SHADC), a statement of the association issued by its president Dikhonang Pamei urged the All Tribal Rights' Protection Forum Manipur (ATRPFM) to press the State Government in their own ways for securing implementation of pension scheme in favour of retired employees.

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