Visakhapatnam: No relief for pensioners

Visakhapatnam: Even as the state government doubled the monthly pension amount under the NTR Bharosa Scheme, beneficiaries continue to face an uphill task getting the local administration to accept their applications.

Elderly people, widows and others are being forced to make rounds of government offices, with no relief in sight.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu recently announced an increase in pension amount to Rs 2,000 from Rs 1,000. Many beneficiaries in the state are happy with this decision, but wary of the delay in disbursements of social security benefits.

 Though the beneficiaries were identified during the Janmabhoomi Maa Vooru programmes, some of them didn’t get pension amount. They have been asked to visit the municipal offices and apply with relevant documents. In spite of repeatedly registering their details, pensions were not granted.

 A widow, who has been doing rounds of the GVMC office at Gajuwaka regularly from past one week, said that she has submitted her ration card, Aadhaar card and other required documents. Still, the municipal authorities have not sanctioned pension, she said. She was asked to bring a new document during every visit to the office.

Afraid to say reveal her name, the elderly woman urged the state government to simplify the process and direct the civic body to clear all the pending applications. There are many such women and elderly people waiting for their turn to apply at Gajuwaka GVMC office.

However, the officials follow their slow-and-steady work style.

Calls to the GVMC zonal commissioner met with no response.

According to municipal staff, the application process is not that cumbersome. New beneficiaries need to submit relevant records such as death certificate of the deceased person.

However, illiterate people find it difficult to bring the necessary documents from authorities concerned.