Senior citizens of the below poverty line (BPL) get a paltry sum of Rs 200 as pension which has not been increased despite numerous appeals from several organizations. The current sum is ridiculously low given the spiraling prices of essential commodities. A horde of senior citizens, widows and disabled swarmed the community halls in old city to get a paltry sum of Rs. 200 but they couldn’t get that due to dysfunctional punching machines.
Generally the senior citizens, widows and disabled are given pensions from 1st to 5th of every month. For this the government has given them smart cards of ICICI Bank. They are provided the pension amount through punching machines of ICICI at community halls. But the punching machines are not working since 4 days. Despite that the apathy of officials ICICI bank, collector, joint collector and other officials is deplorable.
Poor elderly citizens suffer from diabetes and other diseases. Shamefully the collectors and other concerned authorities are paying no heed to the representations made by even the public representatives.
Siasat report