KARACHI, Sept 30: The Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) has ceased the facility of reimbursement on account of tuition fee and stationary charges under the deceased employees' children education fund (DECEF) to those widows who have been employed in the institution under ‘children quota’.

A notification issued by the EOBI management on Sept 8 said that the decision was taken as per agreement with the defunct CBA.

It would be pertinent to mention here that the EOBI had decided to establish a fund, DECF, during its board of trustees’ meeting held on June 5, 2003. The fund was aimed to extend financial support to the families of deceased employees of the institutions in meeting expenditures incurred on the study of their children.

The board had also approved Rs0.5 million initially for setting up the fund and it was decided that the employees’ would also contribute in the fund. As per decision of the board, the institution started deduction of Rs15 per month from the salaries of the employees on account of the fund.

Under the fund, the children of deceased employees studying in primary classes were being given Rs800 per moth as tuition fees, while Rs1,500 annually were being given to purchase books and stationary.

Similarly, the children studying in secondary classes were given Rs100 per month as tuition fees and Rs1,800 annually for purchasing stationary and books and the employees children in intermediate classes were given Rs1,200 per month as tuition fee and Rs200 annually for purchasing books and stationary.

The widow employees of the EOBI have condemned the decision of the EOBI management to discontinue the facility to their children.

They dubbed it as an anti-education decision and demanded immediate restoration of the facility, which was a big support in continuation of their children's education.

The widows of the deceased employees have appealed to the federal government to reverse the said decision so that their children could not be deprived of acquiring education.—Online