Hundreds of retired state government employees will get back to `work' today, Pensioners' Day. Braving the winter nip, they will stage a dharna at Azad Maidan to demand implementation of the Fifth Pay Commission.

The commission's recommendations include a 40 per cent hike on basic pension and Rs 100 per month for medical allowance, to be effected from January 1, 1996. Said Prabhakar Shobhne, president of Brihanmumbai Pensioners' Association, ``There are 45,000 retired employees in Mumbai and around five lakh in the state who have been given the go-by by the state government when it announced measures for its employees recently''.

Numerous representations to the state since October 1997 have proved futile, said members. ``The ministers are not even willing to give us a hearing,'' lamented Shobhne, a retired Deputy Secretary. Eight other states as well as the Centre have implemented the scheme, he pointed out.

BARC director stresses research

Director of theBhabha Atomic Research Centre, Dr Anil Kakodkar, today called upon scientists to focus on research to tide over the technology denial regime. Addressing a gathering at Anacon-98, a technology exhibition organised by the Indian Analytical Instruments Association on Wednesday, he urged for a synergy between basic and applied research for technological development. The association bestowed the lifetime achievement award on Kakodkar.