Applicants suffer due to ‘lack of transparency’

KARNAL: In the absence of proper monitoring and tracking system for applications, new applicants of oldage and widow pension allowance are not receiving their allowance even though they applied for the scheme several months ago.

When the scheme was launched, officials of the social justice and welfare department had said that the applicants would receive the allowance within 90 days of filling the form.

“I had applied for old age samman allowance in January, but still do not know when I will get it,” says Anita Devi, an applicant from Gharaunda of Karnal district. “I do not even know the status of my application as nobody is telling me whether my application has been accepted or rejected,” she rues.

Another applicant, Sangeeta Devi from Yamunanagar, says, “I had applied for widow pension about eight months ago.

Though they started my pension within five months of filling the form, my children not getting the allowances of ₹500 yet.”

As per officials, now the government has changed some rules and now the applicants can apply for the benefits via Common Service Centers (CSC) set up in Gram Sachivalyas. But after applying for it at the CSC, they have to go for a physical verification in ‘Khula Darbar’ (open session) organised at the sub-divisions and blocks. Hakam Singh, deputy director (pensions) of Haryana social justice and empowerment department, could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.

Karnal district social welfare officer Satyawan Singh said, “Though there is a proper system to monitor the applications, we do not respond to people whose applications get rejected.”

NEW APPLICANTS NOT RECEIVING BENEFITS EVEN AFTER MONTHS OF APPLYING