PENSION RIGMAROLE
In a country like India, you don't have to hunt for corruption : it hunts you. And after squeezing your life support systems, it dumps you.
Pension funds are the biggest sources of corruption. In a country where politicians are more concerned with building their vote banks - and their loyal civil servants are busy creating their retirement nests, poor pensioners are left hanging by their thumbs. Pensioners mostly are infirm and old and cannot fight for their rights. Government being the biggest employer, has equally large corruption base as far as the pension funds are concerned, leaving aside other areas for other times to discuss.
Recently, war veterans surrendered their medals and trophies to the President of India for alleged discrepancy in their pension payment. Other pensioners fight it out by sitting on dharna and going on hunger strike.
This reporter was able to get the copy of this letter, the subject of today's blog. On to readers.
The Chief Minister,
Government of Tripura,
Agartala.
Subject : PPO No : PEN 3/TRIP/S/SUP/oc (or cc?)/SSA/99
Sir,
Your kind attention is drawn to the above Pension Payment Order and I wish to know its status, as it is a family pension payment order and I am entitled to the pension after the death of my wife. She was working at Tripura Government Emporium in New Delhi.
On May 5, 2008, I had informed the Director, Industries and Commerce, by registered post about the critical health of my wife and the anomaly of my date of birth and the correct spellings of my name in the above PPO. A copy of the letter was also supplied to Rana Jodhbir Jung, Development Officer of Tripura Government in New Delhi for record and information
Unfortunately, my wife died on September 6, 2008. I had given her death certificate to Mr Rana with a request to forward it to the director, which he kindly did by his letter dated October 7, 2008, vide No F. TE/ND/1(39)/2006-07/182-83.
But till today, I have not heard anything about the PPO – or received any pension – although more than five months have elapsed. I request you to ask the director to release my pension immediately.
.
I would also like to draw your kind attention to the judgement pronounced by Justice D.Y.Chandrachud of Mumbai High Court, which held that pension is a Constitutional right of a senior citizen to live with dignity and honour.
I am sure you will understand the urgency and have my pension released – incorporating all the increments and ex gratia payments announced by the Tripura Government since my wife's death.
Thanks.
Yours faithfully,
Pensioner's Husband
