Former civic representatives of the State, around an estimated 40,000 of them, may get a pension in their sunset years from the local bodies that they had served, if the State government finally clears a proposal which is hanging fire.
The recommendations of a high-level committee, which suggested a minimum monthly pension of Rs.3,000, are under government consideration. The Cabinet would have the final say, sources said.
The committee wants those in the 50-plus age group, who have put in a complete five-year term and have not been re-elected, to be considered for the support.
Those who have taken up any remunerative job after the expiry of their term in local bodies will not be eligible for the pension.
The committee is understood to have suggested that the local bodies should foot the pension bill and spare the State government of the financial burden.
If the government gives its nod, the pension may become a reality during the term of the newly elected local bodies, which will assume office on December 1. The pension scheme would possibly have retrospective effect too, the sources added.
The representatives have been, since long, demanding pension, a hike in honoraria and other benefits from the State government. Several local bodies had passed resolutions urging the government to introduce welfare schemes as a large number of former local bodies’ representatives were left struggling to survive.
It is estimated that around 22,000 local bodies’ representatives would be sworn-in this year in as many as 88 municipalities, six Corporations, 156 block panchayats, and 970 village panchayats. In 2010, there were 21,000 representatives in the three-tier panchayat raj institutions. The number of representatives was estimated to be 18,000 in 2005.
C.P. John, a member of the Planning Board, said no formal discussions had yet been held in the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF) about the pension issue. A cut-off age for eligibility was certainly required as people as young as 21 years are getting elected these days, he said.
