Benefits stopped abruptly, getting them is an ordeal, say pensioners
Aditi.R@timesgroup.com
Chennai:14.01.2019
“I was told that I needed to get an Aadhaar card to receive my old age pension. But my condition doesn’t allow me to move out,” said Anthony Raj, a 75-year-old quadriplegic patient, who until 2017 used to regularly avail ₹1,000 as old age pension from the state government. “When I sent someone to check, they said it was mandatory that I go to the seva centre to give my biometric details. But then I was told that it is not possible to receive card number due to anatomical restrictions,” he said.
Anthony Raj was among the 1,000-odd beneficiaries from T Nagar who complained about the abrupt stoppage of pension funds at a public hearing organised by the state department of revenue, Tamil Nadu Social Audit Society and the National Institute of Rural Development on Friday. It was convened to audit and analyse challenges faced by beneficiaries of the National Social Assistance Programmes and Tamil Nadu Social Security Pension Schemes.
Most claimed that they were denied benefits because they did not have Aadhaar cards. “Many senior citizens are bedridden and unable to walk to the seva centre. In such cases the state must arrange for mobile units or home visits to help them avail benefits,” said Malarvizhi, a 66-year-old beneficiary of the widow pension. Currently 3,718 people in T Nagar benefit from various social security pension schemes, a majority being old age and widow pensions. During the hearing it was learned that pensions to 740 beneficiaries were stopped, and 622 cancelled.
People complained that pensions were stopped over the past several months due to nonrecognition of fingerprints, mismatch of Aadhaar data and the fee charged by banking correspondents during each withdrawal, which discouraged many from visiting banks. As many as 151 persons in the area stopped receiving the amount because of relocation. “Pensions get stopped even if people move to the next street. Many don’t ask for a transfer certificate fearing their pension will be discontinued,” she said.
It was further alleged that since there is no common guideline to determine if a beneficiary belongs to a Below Poverty Line family, several officers make biased decisions. “They end up enrolling people according to their whims and fancy and the needy are left out. We urge authorities to look into the matter and provide reasonable solution,” said Shailaja K, another pensioner.
While officials from the revenue department did not provide any spot solution they asked the beneficiaries to wait till they probed further.
I was told that I needed to get an Aadhaar card to receive my old age pension. But my condition doesn’t allow me to move out
Anthony Raj | 75-YEAR-OLD QUADRIPLEGIC PATIENT
Aditi.R@timesgroup.com
Chennai:14.01.2019
“I was told that I needed to get an Aadhaar card to receive my old age pension. But my condition doesn’t allow me to move out,” said Anthony Raj, a 75-year-old quadriplegic patient, who until 2017 used to regularly avail ₹1,000 as old age pension from the state government. “When I sent someone to check, they said it was mandatory that I go to the seva centre to give my biometric details. But then I was told that it is not possible to receive card number due to anatomical restrictions,” he said.
Anthony Raj was among the 1,000-odd beneficiaries from T Nagar who complained about the abrupt stoppage of pension funds at a public hearing organised by the state department of revenue, Tamil Nadu Social Audit Society and the National Institute of Rural Development on Friday. It was convened to audit and analyse challenges faced by beneficiaries of the National Social Assistance Programmes and Tamil Nadu Social Security Pension Schemes.
Most claimed that they were denied benefits because they did not have Aadhaar cards. “Many senior citizens are bedridden and unable to walk to the seva centre. In such cases the state must arrange for mobile units or home visits to help them avail benefits,” said Malarvizhi, a 66-year-old beneficiary of the widow pension. Currently 3,718 people in T Nagar benefit from various social security pension schemes, a majority being old age and widow pensions. During the hearing it was learned that pensions to 740 beneficiaries were stopped, and 622 cancelled.
People complained that pensions were stopped over the past several months due to nonrecognition of fingerprints, mismatch of Aadhaar data and the fee charged by banking correspondents during each withdrawal, which discouraged many from visiting banks. As many as 151 persons in the area stopped receiving the amount because of relocation. “Pensions get stopped even if people move to the next street. Many don’t ask for a transfer certificate fearing their pension will be discontinued,” she said.
It was further alleged that since there is no common guideline to determine if a beneficiary belongs to a Below Poverty Line family, several officers make biased decisions. “They end up enrolling people according to their whims and fancy and the needy are left out. We urge authorities to look into the matter and provide reasonable solution,” said Shailaja K, another pensioner.
While officials from the revenue department did not provide any spot solution they asked the beneficiaries to wait till they probed further.
I was told that I needed to get an Aadhaar card to receive my old age pension. But my condition doesn’t allow me to move out
Anthony Raj | 75-YEAR-OLD QUADRIPLEGIC PATIENT
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