Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 03 October 2025
The Government Pensioners Association, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, marked World Pensioners Day with a small and simple function at Shaheed Bhavan, Anarkali, Sri Vijaya Puram on 1st October 2025. The observance was part of a global celebration initiated by the Trade Union International of Pensioners and Retirees, affiliated with the World Federation of Trade Unions, and coordinated in India by the National Coordination Committee of Pensioners Associations, New Delhi.
KP Jayarajan, retired Executive Engineer, APWD, was the Chief Guest and expressed his appreciation that the Government Pensioners Association had organized the event in the islands, highlighting the importance of recognising the contributions of senior citizens.
Speaking at the function, P. Banerjee, Vice President of the association, highlighted the challenges faced by the elderly in accessing medical treatment. He raised concerns over the rising cost of medicines and alleged that government policies were indirectly supporting exploitative practices by medical suppliers. He also pointed out issues such as food adulteration and high medicine tariffs, which disproportionately affect senior citizens.
D. Ayyappan, former General Secretary of the Non-Gazetted Government Officers Association, discussed broader problems confronting pensioners nationwide, as well as specific issues faced by retirees in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
The programme concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Suresh Lall, General Secretary of the Government Pensioners Association.
