PIL seeks pension to be paid at doorstep

PIL seeks pension to be paid at doorstep

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:09.12.2020

The Karnataka high court has asked the Centre to clarify whether senior citizens are entitled to receive their pension at home during the prevailing pandemic.

A division bench led by chief justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka made this oral observation while hearing a PIL filed by Akhila Karnataka Vayovrudhara Okkoota (Aikyata), an organisation which represents senior citizens seeking enhancement of pension.

The organization’s counsel told the court that the guidelines issued by the ministry of home affairs (MHA) says citizens above 65 years and those with comorbidities have been advised to stay at home.

Considering this, the bench said the state cannot expect citizens to go to banks to collect their monthly pension and the issue needs to be addressed by the government by the next hearing. Under the Sandhya Suraksha Yojana and Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme, pension was increased from ₹600 to ₹1,000 for people above 65 years, effective from November 1, 2018.

The petitioner argued, “A senior citizen has no other means of livelihood during the pandemic. It is imperative that to adequately comply with its duties and secure the living conditions of senior citizens in cities like Bengaluru, the pension amount needs to be increased from a mere ₹1,000.”

In addition, the association also urged the court to order the directorate of social security and pensions, Karnataka, to release pension due to senior citizens since January this year with immediate effect and pay it at their doorsteps. It also sought a direction to the body to ensure it regularly releases pension amounts by the second week of every month through the agreed upon mode of payment and also ensure holding of monthly ‘pension adalats’.

The petitioner claimed that despite lockdown guidelines stipulating disbursement of pensions be continued, several beneficiaries did not receive their pensions.