Wednesday, December 31, 2014

MCDs FORGET TO PAY PENSION TO THOUSANDS OF DISABLED/WIDOWS/OLD-AGED PERSONS - SOCIAL JURIST WRITES TO DELHI LG AND MCD COMMISSIONERS


To
1.     Hon’ble Shri Najeeb Jung
Lieutenant Governor of Delhi
Raj Niwas, Raj Niwas Marg
Civil Lines, Delhi-110 054

2.     The Commissioner
East Delhi Municipal Corporation
419,Udyog Sadan
Patparganj Industrial Area
New Delhi – 110 096

3.     The Commissioner
South Delhi Municipal Corporation
Dr. S.P.M. Civic Centre
Minto Road, New Delhi-110 002

4.     The Commissioner
North Delhi Municipal Corporation
Dr. S.P.M. Civic Centre
Minto Road, New Delhi-110 002
December 31, 2014

Subject: MCDs forget to pay pension to thousands of disabled/widows/old-aged persons

Sir

On December 25, 2014, I, along with a social worker Ms. Sunita Chauhan visited the slums of Shashi Garden, Patparganj, East Delhi as part of my constant initiative to spread awareness on health, education and labour rights.

On interaction with the locals, around 50 of them complained to me of non-receipt of pension which they were earlier getting from the EDMC as disabled /widows/old-aged persons. Several persons have not received pension for more than a year. In one case, Ms. Kamlesh, a 70-year-old widow, r/o 429, Shastri Mohalla, Patparganj, Delhi-91 has not received any pension since June 2014 and has therefore not been able to pay her electricity-bills. Resultantly, her electricity-connection has been disconnected and she is now living in the dark. Another old widow, Ms. Chunia, aged about 65 years, r/o E-70-A, Gali No.-8, Shashi Garden, Mayur Vihar, Phase-I has not received any pension since March 2013.

The destitute, whose only means of survival was the pension, have thus been left in lurch by the abrupt and arbitrary discontinuation of pension. Their monthly budgets have been hit hard and many of them have been drawn to the brink of starvation. From my sources, I have come to know that similar situation prevails across all the three MCDs affecting thousands of the destitute.

It is not befitting of a State-agency once having extended such promises to its poorest of the poor to retract mid-way and to leave the poor high-and-dry. Such a conduct would only foster discontent among the destitute who yield high expectations from the State. Such inaction on the part of the State is not only arbitrary and discriminatory but also violates the Fundamental Right to Life of the destitute as guaranteed to them under Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

You are, therefore, earnestly requested to enquire into the matter and ensure immediate restoration of pension to such destitute, as well as disbursal of arrears, bearing in mind the interest of the poorest of the poor.

With regards

Ashok Agarwal, Advocate
Advisor, Social Jurist

M: 9811101923 


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