Plight of retd BJMC employees

Most of them are now disabled or suffering from old age diseases. They are unemployed with no source of income. Most of their children are in school, college or unemployed. They have grown up daughters whom they cannot get married off due to lack of money.

The only hope in their old age was gratuity . But this gratuity has become a mirage from the fiscal year 2000-2001.

Many of these hapless retired personnel or their dependants have died without treatment for lack of money. They had savings no doubt but these savings lasted for only a year or two. After that, to make ends meet, they have taken large debts. But since there is no sign of getting their gratuity, even the near relatives are now shying away to give fresh loans. The result is inevitable. They and their dependants will die like paupers for want of money -- the money which is rightfully theirs but now being denied by certain unscrupulous quarters.

While we are chanting catchy slogans for the eradication of poverty, we are in fact, creating poverty, in the case by denying the retired personnel their dues.

The purpose for writing this letter is to draw the attention of the authorities concerned to the dire pitiful condition of the retd personnel. We should bear in mind that one day we all will become old and jobless. Surely none would not like to get harassed for their rightful dues.