Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 24 July 2025
In response to a nationwide call by the Forum of Civil Pensioners Associations, New Delhi, the Government Pensioners Association of Andaman & Nicobar Islands will organise a “Human Chain” protest in Sri Vijaya Puram tomorrow, 25th July 2025. The demonstration will begin at 3:30 p.m. from the entry gate of Police Station Aberdeen and extend up to the Gandhi statue at Mohanpura.
The protest is part of a series of agitations planned across the country, demanding the immediate formation of the 8th Central Pay Commission and the withdrawal of the Centre’s decision to differentiate pensioners based on their date of retirement.
The local decision to join the national agitation was taken during the Executive Committee meeting of the Andaman & Nicobar Government Pensioners Association held on 19th July under the chairmanship of its President, K.G. Das. The Association has appealed to all government pensioners in the Islands to participate in large numbers.
The protest follows widespread outrage over amendments made to the Pension Rules through the Finance Act, 2025. The amendments, which have been applied retrospectively from 1st June 1972, allow the Government of India to exclude certain pensioners from Central Pay Commission benefits based on their retirement date—a move widely condemned by pensioners’ groups.
The meeting was also addressed by Suresh Lall, General Secretary, and Pronob Banerjee, Vice President of the Association, who urged solidarity among retired government employees in the Islands and across the nation.
