Warring leads protest by women for old-age pension
Tuesday, 23/06/2015
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THEIR PENSION WAS STOPPED AS THE ADMINISTRATION ALLEGEDLY DECLARED THEM DEAD
GIDDERBAHA: Gidderbaha MLA and National Youth Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring led the protest by some old women in front of the office of the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) here on Monday. The women were demanding the resumption of their old-age pension. These women were allegedly declared dead by the administration and their pension was stopped.
“The administration has stopped the pension of many beneficiaries who were aligned with the Congress. As the government has no money to pay the pension, names of many beneficiaries, who do not owe allegiance to the ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) were removed from the list. There were two reasons behind it. One was political vendetta and the other was to save money of the cash-strapped state government,” alleged Amarinder Singh.
He, with his supporters, also joined the dharna outside the SDM’s office in support of the demand of the women.
“They give only `250 per month as old- age pension. Today, about nine old women came with me who have been removed from the list by declaring them dead. This is how the administration has been ousting genuine beneficiaries from the list to accommodate ineligible beneficiaries of the SAD,” alleged Raja.
“The administration has been working under the pressure of the SAD and not doing its job with fairness. We warn the administration to take corrective steps, otherwise the Congress will be forced to intensify the agitation on the issue, said Raja.
