Sri Vijaya Puram, May 8: A One-Day Orientation-cum-Training Programme on Pension and Pay Fixation was organised today by the Chief Pay and Accounts Office, Andaman and Nicobar Administration, at the Seminar Hall of Tagore Government College of Education (TGCE) with the objective of sensitizing Heads of Offices and dealing staff on pension rules, pay fixation procedures and common deficiencies noticed in pension cases.
The programme was inaugurated by Dr. Sachin Shinde, IAS, Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Finance), by lighting the ceremonial lamp in the presence of Pallavi Sarkar, IAS, Secretary, A&N Administration and S Dasgupta.
Addressing the participants, Dr. Sachin Shinde emphasized that pension cases should not be treated merely as routine files or official formalities but as matters directly connected to the welfare and dignity of retired employees and their families.
He stated that government employees dedicate years of service to the Administration and therefore deserve to receive all pensionary benefits promptly upon retirement without having to face delays or repeated visits to offices.
“After rendering years of dedicated service, every employee should receive all pensionary benefits promptly on the date of retirement without being made to wander from office to office,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Pallavi Sarkar highlighted the importance of proper understanding of pension procedures among dealing staff and officers. She urged participants to effectively utilise the knowledge shared during the programme to ensure that pensionary benefits, being the rightful entitlement of retiring employees, are processed and released without unnecessary delay.
Shri S Dasgupta, Director of Accounts and Budget, informed the gathering that the Chief Secretary of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration has been closely monitoring the timely settlement of pension cases and that the status of pending pension matters is being reviewed regularly at higher administrative levels.
The training programme was conducted in two separate sessions to accommodate participants from different departments and regions.
The morning session was attended by more than 150 participants, including Heads of Offices and dealing assistants from various departments in the Sri Vijaya Puram region. The afternoon session witnessed participation from around 100 officials representing Forest Divisions, APWD Divisions and offices from the Wimberlygunj region.
In addition to physical participation, around 100 officials from far-flung areas of the Islands joined the programme through online mode, enabling wider outreach and participation.
Technical sessions during the programme focused on pension matters and pay fixation procedures. These sessions were conducted by M Mohammed Ashraf and Sameera Thoufique respectively.
Officials stated that the programme was aimed at improving procedural efficiency, reducing errors in pension processing and ensuring timely settlement of retirement benefits for government employees across the Islands.
