AGARTALA: The Forum of Civil Pensioners Association held a dharna at the Mahatma Gandhi Statue near Circuit House here on Saturday, coinciding with the organisation’s observance of Martyrs’ Day, as part of a campaign to press the government on an 11-point charter of demands.
The protest, held between 11 am and 1 pm, saw a gathering of pensioners from across the state who assembled to register their grievances and demand redressal of pending pension-related issues. Members of the association, including senior citizens, stood in solidarity at the venue, holding banners highlighting their demands.
Speaking on the occasion, a senior representative of the Forum addressed the gathering, underlining the urgency of the pensioners’ concerns and calling upon the authorities to take note of the 11-point charter. The demonstration formed part of a nationwide agitation being carried out by pensioner bodies, with similar protests reportedly held in other parts of the country on the same day.
The Forum of Civil Pensioners Association has been vocal in recent times over delays and shortfalls in the disbursal of pension benefits, and has maintained that the dharna is intended to keep pressure on the government until their demands are adequately addressed.