UDAIPUR, June 9 (Udaipur Kiran) : Engineer Virendra Singh Solanki, the newly appointed State President of the Rajasthan Agricultural Universities Pensioners Federation, was felicitated during the monthly general meeting of the Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology (MPUAT) Pensioners Welfare Society in Udaipur.
Following discussions on key issues affecting pensioners, members of the society welcomed Solanki with garlands and a traditional shawl.
The monthly meeting, held at the Directorate of Extension Education auditorium under the chairmanship of Dr. S.K. Bhatnagar, focused on resolving various long-pending pension-related issues of retired university teachers and employees. Dr. Bhatnagar informed pensioners about the progress of an ongoing case in the Rajasthan High Court, Jodhpur, and the status of pension payments for the current month.
He stated that gratuity payments of 116 pensioners have remained unpaid by the university since July 2023. According to Rajasthan accounting rules, gratuity must be paid within two months of retirement, failing which the employer is required to make the payment along with interest. He further said that despite the university having fixed deposits exceeding Rs 105 crore in various banks, gratuity payments have not been made, leading to considerable resentment among pensioners.
Former Vice-Chancellor’s Special Officer Dr. Subhash Bhargava expressed concern over delays in pension payments and the prolonged non-payment of gratuity. Former Director of Research Dr. G.S. Ameta said he would lead a delegation of twenty senior retired vice-chancellors, deans and professors to meet the Vice-Chancellor and seek solutions to pensioners’ issues, including gratuity payments and timely monthly pension disbursement.
During the meeting, office-bearers and pensioners of the MPUAT Pensioners Welfare Society formally welcomed Solanki, who was recently appointed State President of the Rajasthan Agricultural Universities Pensioners Federation, an organization formed to safeguard the interests of pensioners from Rajasthan’s five agricultural universities.
Addressing the gathering, Solanki said that the Rajasthan Government introduced a pension scheme in the state’s five government agricultural universities about 28 years ago and has continuously arranged pension payments through grants, loans, court orders and land sales. He stated that approximately Rs 270 crore is required annually for pension payments in the five universities, which amounts to about 0.83 percent of the Rs 33,882 crore spent annually by the state government on pensions for state employees.
Solanki said that neighbouring states such as Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Punjab provide regular pension payments to retired university pensioners through the state exchequer. He questioned why retired pensioners of Rajasthan’s government agricultural universities continue to face discrimination.
He further stated that the federation would soon establish contact with the Rajasthan Government’s senior leadership and meet Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Diya Kumari, Agriculture Minister Kirodi Lal Meena and Chief Secretary Srinivas to seek a permanent solution to pensioners’ issues and ensure regular monthly pension payments. He expressed confidence that the state government would adopt a positive and sensitive approach toward the legitimate demands of pensioners and take concrete steps to provide relief.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
