Elderly man dies waiting in queue for old age pension verification
Authorities order probe
Srinagar: A 62-year-old man died on Tuesday while waiting for verification of his credentials to get an old age pension at the social welfare office in Bandipora district of north Kashmir, officials said here.
Sonaullah Bhat, a resident of Malangam in Bandipora, died at the Tehsil Social Welfare office Tuesday morning as he was waiting for his turn to submit his documents for verification, the officials said.
The cause of Bhat’s death was not immediately known.
Thousands of old age pensioners in Kashmir are being made to run from pillar to post for the past several months now for regularising of their pension as the payment process has been moved to online mode, various beneficiaries have alleged.
Moreover, political parties too have urged the administration to adopt a “humane approach” to the issue.
Expressing concern over Bhat’s death, CPI(M) leader Mohamad Yousuf Tarigami reiterated the demand for simplifying the whole process.
He expressed his dismay over the hardships being faced by the old people, people with disability, widows, divorcees, transgenders, and other needy and destitute with the introduction of online registration.
“The beneficiaries who are old-aged, including the disabled are being made to sit in long queues for hours in sub-zero temperatures outside offices which led to the unfortunate death of this poor elderly person,” he said.
The CPI (M) leader also demanded immediate relief for Bhat’s family.
Meanwhile, authorities ordered enquiry to ascertain all related aspects into the death of a 62-year-old pension applicant.
Officials said that the old age pension applicants are not required to submit hard copies of their verification.
“A person collapsed today on 20th Dec, 2022 at around 09:00 AM, in the premises of the office of Tehsil Social Welfare Officer, Bandipora, who was rushed to District Hospital, Bandipora, where doctors) on duty declared him “Brought Dead”. The person was later on identified as Sonaullah Bhat S/o Ghulam Hassan Bhat R/o Malangam Bandipora, aged around 62 years,” an official statement issued here said.
“In this regard, this is to clarify that Old Age Pension applicants are not required to submit hard copies of their verification and only applicants lacking any formality or having any kind issues are contacted through the control room for necessary rectifications which can be done at CSC(s). In this case, the applicant was not required to visit the office of Tehsil Social Welfare Officer Bandipora to submit a hardcopy nor was he called to visit CSC,” it added.
“Moreover, in order to ascertain all related aspects of the case, an enquiry has been ordered which shall be conducted by Additional District Development Commissioner, Bandipora and the findings of the same shall be shared in due course of time,” it said.
Furthermore, the statement said that Old Age Pension applicants are requested not to visit the Office(s) of Social Welfare Department unnecessarily and may contact District Control Room for any assistance on (01957-225322/ 7006526985/ 7006741492). (with inputs from PTI)
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