Old Age Pension woes: Sons carry their elderly mother on sling to Bank

Puklibai, an elderly woman of Korwa tribe of Rouni village of Chattisgarh's Jashpur district has not received her pension for 4 months which forced her and her sons to travel all the way to the bank. The sons carried their mother on a sling eight kilometres to and fro to make the query with the bank.

Jashpur: The state government's gift to the senior citizens - old-age pension scheme has rather become a headache. Puklibai, an elderly woman of Korwa tribe of Rouni village of the district was disappointed when she went to the bank to check on her old age pension.

Puklibai's sons, Baisakhu and Janglu carried her on a sling for four kilometres to reach the bank. Imagine their disappointment when they were told Puklibai's bank account was never deposited with any pension amount.

Old-age pensions are seen as a senior citizen’s right, a payback for economic contributions made through their working lives, to be paid at a time when earning capacity has declined due to age or poor health.

The sons carried their mother on their shoulders again for 4 kilometres all the way back to their house. The pictures here clearly shows how successful government schemes are on a ground level.

Pension not received for four months

Pulkibali cannot walk and her health is also deteriorating, the pension which is a really small amount of money, meant a lot to her. It was all that she could spend on her health.

Pension was earlier paid through Gram Panchayat

Some years ago, the senior citizens were paid their pension amount through Gram Panchayat. Now with the change of system, they receive it in their bank accounts. Modernity in a twist is making lives harder for the rural people.

Villagers travel several kilometres for a little money and are sent back empty-handed. While those who have no Aadhaar or could not seed their Aadhaar are excluded, even those who have Aadhaar face difficulties in getting a pension as it is often transferred to other bank accounts.

Bank officials and employees extort pension money

Many times, the beneficiaries do not receive their pension amount in bank accounts at all, the other times, bank employees extort the money. The beneficiaries, most of the time are handed less money than they actually received. Locals have now demanded the old system of pension payment through Gram Panchayat to be restored. The top officials are mulling on a plan to execute home delivery of pension for those who are disabled.

This picture of a special backward tribe Pahari Korwa woman, from the remote area of ​​the district, carried on the sling is enough to shame humanity. The scenario clearly gives an idea of how real are the promises made by political leaders.