Elderly don't get pension without paying bribes

Elderly don't get pension without paying bribes
Mahalingam PonnusamyMahalingam Ponnusamy | Aug 27, 2011, 02.58AM IST


CHENNAI: It's taken two years and 50 trips to government offices but 67-year-old G Namachivayam still hasn't got his old-age pension.

He says he is tired of visiting the Purasawalkam taluk office and the Collector's office on Rajaji Salai. "My application is being delayed because I refuse to pay the bribe of Rs 4,000," he said. "The officials have done their verification, but I was asked to pay a bribe through touts. I refused. So I have to keep making trips to meet officials," he said.

For people like Namachivayam, Anna Hazare is a hero. Hundreds of senior citizens have been waiting for years to get their pension from the Purasawalkam division. M Raniyammal, 65, said, "Officials visited my house a few months ago, but I still haven't got my pension. I see well-off people living in private apartments getting old-age pension."

Sources in the collector's office premises said about 50 touts operate on campus. "You can get anything from the office if you are ready to pay. Most officers do not accept applications directly from the elderly. They are in league with the touts," said V R A Viswanath, an RTI activist.

There are also complaints that pension does not reach on time. C Vasanthakumari, a beneficiary, said: "I have not got pension for the past eight months. I have gone to the taluk office several times and even paid a bribe." But she does not want to complain as she is afraid of losing the benefit permanently.

"We can't eradicate corruption from our system but we are strict with touts. We have ordered raids and their arrest," said district revenue officer K A Annamalai.

Another complaint is that postmen who deliver the pension demand Rs 20 to Rs 40. The CBI recently arrested 11 postmen. "Most postmen deduct Rs 20 to Rs 40 as commission before giving pension to the beneficiaries. In Chennai district, there are 2.36 lakh pensioners under the OAP scheme. The surprise check on Monday was confined to the disbursement of pension to 52,000 pensioners in three post offices," said V Gopalakrishnan of Fact India.

"We are introducing a system through which pension will be paid into a bank account rather than through the post offices," Annamalai said.