Corporations trip on tech, fail to give pensions

NEW DELHI: For the past one year the municipal corporations have not distributed pension to senior citizens and widows. Officials said a notice from the lieutenant governor asked the civic agencies to transfer funds electronically instead of distributing pension cheques. All those entitled to pension should have bank accounts, where the pension will be directly transferred.However, the lack of infrastructure has meant that pension is not being disbursed at all.
"Till last year we were giving cheques but after the LG's notice, it had to be discontinued. Though South Corporation has funds unlike the cash-strapped East Corporation, we are hamstrung by inadequate infrastructure," said Subhash Arya, leader of the house, South Corporation. East Corporation hasn't given out pension for almost two years in the absence of funds.
The civic agencies give Rs 1,000 a month to around two lakh widows, senior citizens and disabled people. The beneficiaries of the pension scheme are selected based on a recommendation by the councillor. "We haven't been able to dole out pension for up to two years in some areas. Widows, senior citizens and those with disabilities benefit from the scheme. So many are dependent on this amount but there are no funds," said Mehek Singh of East Corporation.
Congress councillors, however, refuse to buy these claims, saying money should at least be given on Diwali. "The beneficiaries are mostly poor. At the very least, the corporations should have given them something during the festive season even if their earlier dues couldn't be cleared," said Abhishek Dutt, Andrews Ganj councillor. He added that there are over 700 eligible residents in his ward, who queue up outside his residence to inquire about the distribution of the pension cheques.
"Even in Rohini and Civil Lines zones, residents queue up outside the office. It has become very difficult to face them, as we (councillors) do not know what has to be done," said Yogender Chandolia, north Delhi mayor.