Power Board employees oppose move to form pesnsion trust

Shimla, Oct. 05 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Electricity Board Employees today opposed the state power board's proposed move to disown the responsibilites of pension payment to its employees and pensioners by forming pension fund trust.

In a press statement issued here today, H P elctricity Board Employees Union, General Secretary, Deep Chand Bhardwaj said that it would amount to betraying the employees and pensioners of State Power Board, who have help build assets of more than Rs 3800 crore for this organisation.

He said that State Electrictiy Board had been making profit for five consecutive years due to efforts of its workforce.

He said that the pensioners of the board were drawing Pension from the HPSEB funds so far but now the Pension Fund Trust is being created to release the pensionary benifiary in accordance to Pension Rules,1972.

State government has created fund of Rs 40 Crore to pay pensions for about 11000 HPSEB pensions, which he alleged ''was a meagre amount'.

Stressing that more finacial provision were needed for the fund trust, he demanded that the government should first hold deliberations with the employees to settle the issue.

He said that it was the liability of the state power board to create Pension Fund reserve of Rs 1000 crore for the benifit of its about 33000 employees and pensioners. The Annual liabilities for the said pension fund would be Rs 200 crore per annum in coming years, he added.

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