Bogged down by ailments, elderly lady struggles for monthly pension

Rajamma, an octogenarian lady from Telangana, has to physically collect her pension amount each month. As she is unable to walk, it is her son who takes her to the pension centre on a goat cart each month.

Warangal (Telangana): An octogenarian lady in Telangana's Warangal Rural district, who has trouble moving around, is facing an extremely tough time every month as she has physically collect her pension amount.

A large number of elders across India survive on the government sponsored pension schemes. However, those who are bed-ridden or have difficulty moving around, find it extremely challenging to physically make it to the pension centre.

Senior citizens in Telangana are asked for their fingerprints as biometric identification to claim pension.

Rajamma, an octogenarian who resides in Chapala Banda village in Duggondi Mandal has difficulty walking and cannot stay upright. However, each month, she has to go to the elementary school in the village to collect her pension amount.

Rajamma's only son Mallesham, unable to get a wheelchair for his mother, instead brings a goat cart to take her mother to the school.

With extreme struggle, the old lady manages to get into the cart, following which Mallesham pulls the cart himself and takes her to the school to collect her pension amount.

Mallesham said that he has appealed to the officials multiple times to deliver the pension amount to her mother considering her ailments. However, the officials refused to do so, he said.

While Rajamma has a son who looks after her, many elderly persons do not have the required support to physically collect their pensions.

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