Like Shanti Devi, several others who have retired from various government-aided private schools in Gurgan as teachers or employees, are yet to receive their pension. Spending years running from pillar to post trying to bring the issue to the notice of the authorities, eight out of16 teachers who retired before May 1998 from Gurgaon schools have died, and the rest are fearful their time might come before their dues are paid.

“After teaching for over 26 years, I retired in May 1996. I was paid Rs 1.20 lakh as provident fund, while none of my leaves were encashed. I am dependent on my wife’s pension, who retired as the head, Junior Basic Training, from a government school. Of late, however, it has become difficult to meet ends with a mere Rs 7,500 a month after my wife slipped and broke her arm and hip. Her monthly medical expenses are about Rs 8,000. We are now leading our lives at the mercy of others,” said 73-year-old Diwan Chand. He used to teach social sciences at DAV High School before he retired.

Seventy five-year-old Jagdish Rishi who retired from the post of headmistress from Gurunanak Girls’ High School, lives in the fear that she might lose the battle against time. She also alleged that their pleas remained unheard, their documents getting “misplaced” repeatedly. “We even approached the CM and apprised him of our case. However, the officials later said they had never received any such documents,” she adds.

State Education Minister Mange Ram Gupta, however, offered the excuse that these teachers might have been on deputation and not permanent staff. “The complainants might not have held sanctioned posts. We will look into the matter, whether it is a fault of the government or a departmental error,” said the minister.

Commissioner, Gurgaon, D P S Nagal, however, offered a ray of hope: “Their cases can surely be considered on compassionate grounds. There is an allocation of funds (Rs 300 per month) as old age pension under the social welfare scheme for domiciles.”