Skip to main content

Aadhaar a 'major hurdle' in disbursement of social security pension: Public hearing told

By Our Representative 

Despite tall promises, Jharkhand’s elderly, widows and disabled continue to be denied pensions, a civil society-sponsored public nearing (jan sunwai) on social security pensions has been told. On February16, hundreds of elderlies, single women and differently-abled reached Chaibasa (West Singhbhum, Jharkhand) to participate in the jan sunwai.
Organised by the Khadya Suraksha Jan Adhikar Manch, Pashchimi Sinhbhum, a network of organisations and activists working on food and social security in the district, people from all the 18 blocks of the district participated and shared their complaints.
The jury of the sunwai comprised of economist Jean Dreze and activists and lawyers Ganesh Path Pingua (Munda-Manki Sangh), Mili Birua and Asharfi Nand Prasad, Balram, James Herenj and Taramani Sahu (Right to Food Campaign), participated in the hearing. Several district and block officials were also present.
Many people complained that they have applied several times for pensions in the last few years but they are yet to get pensions. Most do not even get receipt of their applications. Budhni Bodra, 90 years old elderly from Podahat, Sonua, had applied for pension but didn’t get a receipt. She said, “Even after visiting the block office multiple times, I was not given any information about my application.”
When the jury questioned the administration about it, the officials said, nowadays online application process is being encouraged, so that receipt doesn’t get lost. The cases pointed to two major issues – administrative apathy in handling pension applications and the massive pension gap.
Pension not getting approved despite repeated attempts 
According to the government's projected population figures for Jharkhand, the elderly population in the district in 2021 is at least 1,35,369. But the current pension schemes cover only 65% of them! The story is similar for widows and the disabled. Even though the Hemant Soren government announced an increase in the quota of old age pension scheme, it is negligible compared to the total gap, the jan sunwai was told.
People shared the procedural hassles faced in applying for pensions. Even though Kamla Kui’s husband died 20 years ago, she is yet to get widow pension as she has not been able to get her deceased husband’s death certificate prepared. For cases older than a few months, applicants are asked to submit an affidavit. It is not surprising that most women, who cannot afford to pay a middleman, are not able to get the affidavit from the district court.
Participants at the jan sunwai said, the disabled are asked to travel all the way to the Sadar hospital in Chaibasa to get their medical certificate prepared (required for application). Despite being severely physically disabled, Suraj, a 10 years old is yet to get pension as he does not have a medical certificate.
Many participants complained that aadhaar continues to wreak havoc in the lives of the most vulnerable. Manki Godua has not been able to apply for an old age pension as she does not have an Aadhaar. She is unable to enrol for aadhaar as her fingerprints could not be read by the machine. 
Aadhaar related complaints
In the last few years, many pensioners were stuck off the pension list across the state as their pension scheme and / or bank account was not linked with aadhaar. While many managed to get their pension restarted after a few months by getting their aadhaar linked, some continue to be denied pensions.
Jano Kui Surin has been denied her pensions for the last two years as she does not have an aadhaar. As many as 123 people complained that they stopped receiving their pensions since the last few years. 148 people have complained that despite being eligible for old age pension, they are unable to apply because of incorrect date of birth (less age) in their aadhaar.
James among jury members emphasized that pension is a right well within the constitution and it shouldn’t be considered as a dole from the government. Talking about aadhaar, Balram from the Right to Food Campaign asked the officials to advertise that aadhaar is not compulsory for direct bank transfer (DBT) payment.
Economist Jean Dreze sought a deadline to resolve the issues, to which officials have given 10 March as the date. Ashrafi nand Prasad proposed to open a help centre in government office.
At the end of the sunwai, the complainants made the following demands to the state government and local administration:
  • All single women, elderly and people with disability should be eligible for social security pension without any restriction.
  • The pension amount should be increased to at least Rs 3,000 per month, and indexed to inflation.
  • The necessity of aadhaar for social security schemes should be removed.
  • As per the Supreme Court order, pension to be given by the seventh day of every month.
  • People whose pension has stopped due to various reasons should be paid the amount for the gap months and their pension should be resumed immediately.
  • The process of getting a death certificate should be simplified. The requirement of an affidavit should be done away with. Verification by the Munda or Manki should be enough for the issuing of the death certificate.
  • Process of getting the disability certificate should also be simplified. These certificates should also be issued at the block level. Those with mental disabilities should also be eligible for pensions.
  • A receipt should be issued to all those who apply for a pension.
  • There should be an easier process of making complaints related to social security pensions.
  • The age eligibility for old age pension should be lowered to 55 years for men and 50 years for women.
A report, prepared for the district-level public hearing on social security pension schemes, which includes details of cases compiled till February 14, were released at the jan sunwai.

Comments

TRENDING

'Draconian' Kerala health law follows WHO diktat: Govt readies to take harsh measures

By Dr Maya Valecha*  The Governor of Kerala has signed the Kerala Public Health Bill, which essentially reverses the people’s campaign in healthcare services in Kerala for decentralisation. The campaign had led to relinquishing of state powers in 1996, resulting in improvement of health parameters in Kerala. Instead, now, enforcement of law through the exercise of power, fines, etc., and the implementation of protocol during the pandemic, are considered of prime importance.

Reject WHO's 'draconian' amendments on pandemic: Citizens to Union Health Minister

By Our Representative  Several concerned Indian citizens have written to the Union Health Minister to reject amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) of the World Health Organization (WHO) adopted during the 75th World Health Assembly (WHA75) in May 2022, apprehending this will make the signatories surrender their autonomy to the “unelected, unaccountable and the whimsical WHO in case of any future ‘pandemics’.”

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah*   The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual. 

Savarkar in Ahmedabad 'declared' two-nation theory in 1937, Jinnah followed 3 years later

By Our Representative One of the top freedom fighters whom BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi revere the most, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, was also a great supporter of the two nation theory for India, one for Hindus another for Muslims, claims a new expose on the man who is also known to be the original proponent of the concept of Hindutva.

Bihar rural women entrepreneurs witness 50% surge in awareness about renewal energy

By Mignonne Dsouza*  An endline survey conducted under the Bolega Bihar initiative revealed a significant increase in awareness of renewable energy among women, rising from 25% to 76% in Nalanda and Gaya. Renu Kumari, a 34-year-old entrepreneur from Nalanda, Bihar, operates a village eatery that serves as the primary source of income for her family, including her husband and five children. However, a significant portion of her profits was being directed toward covering monthly electricity expenses that usually reach Rs 2,000. 

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Work with Rajasthan's camel herders: German scientist wins World Cookbook Award 2023

By Rosamma Thomas*  Gourmand World Cookbook Awards are the only awards for international food culture. This year, German scientist  Ilse Kohler Rollefson , founder of Camel Charisma, the first of India’s camel dairies, in Pali district of Rajasthan, won the award for her work with camel herders in Rajasthan, and for preparing for the UN International Year of Camelids, 2024. 

'Very low rung in quality ladder': Critique of ICMR study on 'sudden deaths' post-2021

By Bhaskaran Raman*  Since about mid-2021, a new phenomenon of extreme concern has been observed throughout the world, including India : unexplained sudden deaths of seemingly healthy and active people, especially youngsters. In the recently concluded Navratri garba celebrations, an unprecedented number of young persons succumbed to heart attack deaths. After a long delay, ICMR (Indian Council for Medical Research) has finally has published a case-control study on sudden deaths among Indians of age 18-45.

Why is electricity tariff going up in India? Who is the beneficiary? A random reflection

By Thomas Franco*  Union Ministry of Power has used its power under Section 11 of the Electricity Act, 2003 to force States to import coal which has led to an increase in the cost of electricity production and every consumer is paying a higher tariff. In India, almost everybody from farmers to MSMEs are consumers of electricity.

Union Health Ministry, FSSAI 'fail to respond' to NHRC directive on packaged food

By Our Representative  The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has expressed deep concern over the adverse health effects caused by packaged foods high in salt, sugar, and saturated fats. Recognizing it as a violation of the Right to Life and Right to Health of Indian citizens, the quasi-judicial body called for a response from the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) regarding its selection of front-of-pack labels aimed at providing consumers with information to make healthier choices.