By Anjuman Ara Begum,
Guwahati, 22 June 2015: Taking advantage of their old age and illiteracy, five senior ladies namely Skem Kurbah, Thim Kyrsian, Jwim Basalarmaw, Bron Nongrum and Kwet Nongrum, from the village of Kynroh Nonglyer, East Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya have been deprived of their old age pension owing to an alleged fraud and corruption by a post office employee at Post Office Banriwell Kurbah. The post office employee kept the passbook with him and whenever the ladies asked for the amount, he made excuses to them saying that there is no money in the post office.
This shocking incident has been brought to light on June 21, 2015 by CSWO (Civil Society Women Organization), a Shillong based anti-corruption and women rights organisation. The senior ladies were beneficiaries of the National Social Assistance Programme scheme, Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS), commonly known as old age pension.
Seeking a proper reply and to inquire about the status of the payment of their entitlements, the victims visited the Development office at Mawphlang, Shillong and were told that the money has been deposited in their account at the Post Office at Krang, East Khasi Hills. Shockingly, it came to light that taking advantage of their illiteracy the staff of the Post Office Banriwell Kurbah, has taken away their passbooks and has not released the whole amount due to them. Whenever the victims had gone to withdraw the amount they were told that there was no money in the Post office. They even approached the Post Office at Sohiong, East Khasi Hills District, but the same was told to them that there was no money. A local Dorder leader interfered but he was also told that there is no money in the post office.
The victims were hesitant to approach the local MLA (Member of Legislative Assembly) or MDC (Member of District Council) as it is alleged that they openly denied help to those who did not vote for him and the victims didn’t vote for these leaders.
Ms Agnes Kharshiing, chairperson of CSWO suggested that the state government should instruct their officials at the Block Office to look into cases of complaints of corruption seriously and promptly so that villagers do not have to waste their time running from pillar to post for availing their benefits. Additionally, any delay on delivering welfare services should be charged on the Government staff on a daily penalty and deposited in the Government Revenue and the Post Office should provide clear instructions to depositors especially in the rural areas and help serve them and not harass them, she added.
Ms Agnes demanded that since it is a corruption in the Post Office the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) can take up the matter sou motu and investigate such that senior citizens don’t suffer injustice and inequality, and compensation be provided to them for the delay and anxiety caused to them.
The National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) represents a significant step towards the fulfilment of the Directive Principles in Article 41 and 42 of the Constitution recognizing the concurrent responsibility of the Central and the State Governments in the matter. In particular, Article 41 of the Constitution of India directs the State to provide public assistance to its citizens in case of unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement and in other cases of undeserved want within the limit of its economic capacity and development. Under NOAPS, old age pension were granted to a person who is 65 years old or higher and who is destitute in the sense of having little or no means of regular income. Pension under IGNOAPS is now granted to a person who is 60 years or above and belongs to a household below the poverty line instead of only to destitute.
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Anjuman Ara Begum is human rights researcher and journalist based in Guwahati
