Berhampur: Narasingha Muni, who retired as a music teacher from Government High School at Hinjilicut in 2012 and had been moving pillars to post for his final pension payment since past six years, appeared much relieved now.

Muni's case was settled in the first pension adalat of the mass education department held at the Government Girls High School at Giri Road here on Sunday. The court settled cases pertaining to 175 teaching and non-teaching staff members.

"I had been getting the provisional pension of Rs 15,000 for the past six years after my retirement. I had approached the higher authorities and the concerned office clerks several times to get my final pension payment, but in vain," said Muni, who is a resident of Dhipa Sahi at Gosaninuagaon and is an epileptic patient.

"I am glad that Ganjam district education officer Sanatan Panda, who chaired the adalat along with other officials, settled my case within a few hours. I have also been told that my pension file will be sent to the mass education department director's office for final approval on July 25," Muni said.

Pension cases of 24 teachers, including 12 primary and 12 secondary ones, were settled on the spot. Panda said: "We have streamlined a system to disburse the pension of teachers on the same day of his or her retirement, and the pension adalat is a part of it. Such adalats would be held at regular interval in the future to facilitate the teachers and the non-teaching staff members working in the mass education department," said the officer.

Official sources said 142 teachers and non-teaching members received their final pension payment out of 373, who retired in the district till June 30, 2018.

More so, 110 members would retire from July 31 to December 31 this year. Of them, the pension papers of 33 members have already been processed, and they would receive their pension on the same day of their retirement.

Teachers and non-teaching members from Beguniapada, Chatrapur, Ganjam, Hinjili, Khallikote, Polsara, Purushotampur under Chatrapur education district, Aska, Dharakote, Kabisurya Nagar, Seragada and Sanakhemundi under Aska education district, Chikiti, Digapahandi, Kukudakhandi, Patrapur, Rangeilunda under Berhampur education district and Bhanjanagar, Buguda, Belaguntaha, Jagannathprasad, Sorada under Bhanjanagar education district, attended the pension adalat.

They have either retired and are yet to receive the final pension payment or would retire in the near future.