State and central government pensioners stage dharna in Thoothukudi

Forum of Civil Pensioners Association staged dharna in Thoothukudi, urging the government to fulfil their long pending demands.

The dharna took place near the Chidambara Nagar bus stop. District coordinator L. Ramamoorthy presided over the protest. R. Russel, secretary, Water Transport Workers Federation of India delivered the inaugural address.

During the protest, pensioners raised slogans pressing for demands such as merging 50% dearness allowance with basic pay, effective from April 1, providing 30% interim relief and implementing the 8th central pay commission arrears from January 1, 2026.

At the protest, various state and central government pensioners associations addressed the gathering. S. Raphael, zonal secretary of the Income Tax Department Pensioners Association, Samas, district secretary, atomic energy department pensioners association and others were present.

A large number of central and state government pensioners participated in the protest.