Jaipur- The Bhajanlal government of Rajasthan has initiated a review of orders issued by the previous administration, resulting in numerous reversals of public welfare and social benefit decisions. This has led to growing discontent among employees' families who face financial hardship following the death of their loved ones.

In response, the Rajasthan Teachers' Association (Siyaram) has urged the state government to reconsider its directive that excludes widowed, divorced, or estranged daughters from receiving family pension benefits. The organization has formally requested relief through a letter addressed to the state authorities.

Siyaram Sharma, President of the organization, has highlighted that the previous government had, on humanitarian grounds, amended pension rules through the Finance (Rules) Department’s order dated September 4, 2012.

These amendments provided lifetime family pensions to widows and/or divorced or abandoned (deserted wives) daughters and disabled sons of deceased or retired employees without age restrictions.

However, the current government has discontinued these benefits, contradicting the welfare decisions made previously, which Sharma deems as unjust.

Furthermore, last year, the Congress led government had removed the condition of being unmarried for disabled or mentally ill children to receive family pensions. The former government had also set a maximum monthly income limit for the beneficiaries, which was progressively increased from ₹6,000 to ₹9,500, and now stands at ₹12,500, without additional restrictions.

Sharma pointed out that pensions were being granted to children of pensioners or their surviving spouses even years after their death, ensuring continuous support.

However, in June 2024, the Finance (Rules) Department of the Rajasthan Government, Jaipur, issued new guidelines that denied family pension benefits to daughters who become widows, divorced, or estranged after the death of their parents, contravening previous provisions.

The letter expresses astonishment at the Rajasthan government's claims of commitment to public welfare while undermining the rights of employees' families and forcing them into financial distress. This contradiction, according to Sharma, is both deplorable and unacceptable.