Kanpur: Pensioners’ Forum Protests Against CGHS Meeting Held Without Prior Intimation

Kanpur: A dispute has erupted in Kanpur over the upcoming Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) Pensioners’ Panchayat, scheduled to be held on November 14, 2025, at 2:30 PM. The Pensioners’ Forum has accused the CGHS administration of organizing the meeting without prior notification to pensioners’ associations or any public announcement.

According to the official circular issued by Dr. Ragini, Additional Director of CGHS Kanpur, the Panchayat is being held at the CGHS auditorium to address issues faced by pensioners availing CGHS benefits. However, the forum alleges that no information about the event was communicated through newspapers, emails, or official letters to pensioner organizations.

In a strongly worded statement issued by Anand Awasthi, General Secretary of the Pensioners’ Forum, the organization expressed anger over being excluded from the process.

“This is the first time such a Panchayat has been organized without informing pensioner groups. Due to lack of communication, many pensioners will not be able to attend, which has caused deep resentment among members,” Awasthi said.

The forum announced that it will boycott the meeting and has decided to inform higher authorities, terming the move “administrative negligence.” It emphasized that such unilateral decisions damage coordination between pensioners and the CGHS administration.

The CGHS circular, dated November 12, 2025, states that the Panchayat will include senior officials, medical officers, and representatives from CGHS-affiliated hospitals to discuss policy and service-related issues. The forum, however, has demanded that future meetings be conducted transparently with proper prior communication to all stakeholders.