Patna: Taking cognizance of the hardships faced by thousands of retired teachers and non-teaching staff of Bihar's universities due to irregular pension payments, Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan has asked the state education department to take prompt action in this regard.
Forwarding a petition from the Federation of University Teachers' Associations of Bihar (FUTAB), the minister's office on Wednesday directed the state government to examine the issues and initiate necessary steps on priority.
Earlier, FUTAB working president Kanhaiya Bahadur Sinha had written to the Union minister, highlighting the financial and physical distress faced by pensioners of all 13 conventional universities in the state due to delays in monthly pension disbursement. The federation stated that pension payments are often delayed by three to four months, causing acute financial and mental hardship. Many elderly retirees are struggling to meet basic needs, forcing some to skip medical treatment.
The petition noted that pension is often the only source of income for retirees to meet rising medical expenses and other essential costs. In the absence of regular payments, several beneficiaries are compelled to depend on savings or borrow money. FUTAB has been consistently urging the state government to resolve the issue. It has also proposed adopting the Madhya Pradesh model, under which the State Bank of India (SBI) acts as a nodal agency to ensure direct transfer of pension funds into beneficiaries' accounts, reducing delays caused by procedural bottlenecks.
Impact on Retirees
Retired teachers and staff across Bihar's 13 conventional universities have been facing severe financial and mental distress due to irregular pension payments. Many elderly individuals, who rely solely on their pensions for survival, have been forced to delay medical treatments and deplete their savings. The delays, often spanning three to four months, have left retirees struggling to cover basic expenses such as food, utilities, and healthcare.
FUTAB's Efforts
FUTAB has been actively advocating for the rights of pensioners, repeatedly urging the state government to address the issue. The association has proposed a solution based on the Madhya Pradesh model, where SBI serves as a nodal agency to facilitate direct pension transfers. This approach could eliminate bureaucratic delays and ensure timely payments. The Union minister's intervention marks a significant step toward resolving the crisis, with hopes that the state government will act swiftly to implement reforms.
