Sir,
Dearness Relief (DR) or DA for pensioners and employees should be released as per price rise of essential commodities within a time limit. Since beginning of Covid pandemic in 2019, Central Government has already ceased DR/DA for pensioners and employees. For last few months, due to rapid increase in fuel prices, the prices of all essential commodities have soared. Employees, who are in service now, may manage their livelihoods with minimum difficulties but condition of pensioners is very critical. Pension amount is very little and is likely to be treated as fixed amount. As such, pensioners can’t absorb heavy jerk of price rise after managing all types of Covid expenses, including medicines and other things. Let Central Government consider practical difficulties for pensioners and their families in this pandemic scenario and release DR for pensioners immediately and well in advance. It is in vogue that DA/DR for employees and pensioners is supposed to be released at same time but as pensioners have been fighting with limited income, the DR may kindly be released separately for pensioners for survival in critical situation. Ramdas Ray, former faculty, DMS of Regional Institute of Education, Bhubaneswar.