Daijiworld Impact: Massive Protest in City if Pension for Disabled Not Paid by June
Prakash Samaga
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore
Mangalore, May 20: Earlier this week, on Tuesday May 17, daijiworld had carried a special report about the plight of over 1,300 differently-abled people who had been denied their pensions since December due to a 'techincal problem' in the system.
As a result, the district federation for persons with disability has decided to launch a massive protest in the city in case the due pensions are not paid by the first week of June as promised by the authorities.
Gopal Achar, one of the many victims of a 'crippled' system
Speaking daijiworld.com on Friday May 20, president of the federation Dinesh Shetty said that the condition of physically challenged people the state has worsened. Earlier, KSRTC bus passes were given free of cost, but now they are being charged. No one has come forward to help them though they have not received their monthly pensions for six months, he said, and added, "If the due amount is not paid by June, we will hold a massive protest with a procession from Nehru Maidan in which more than 2,000 will participate."
Meanwhile, when daijiworld contacted Puttaswamy, DK district physically challenged welfare committee officer, he said that distribution of monthly pensions belonging to physically challenged comes under the purview of the tahshildar and the treasurer officer. Due to a technical snag there has been temporary stoppage in payment for the last 6 months. He assured that the amount will be paid in the first week of June and the problem will be solved.
One only hopes that at least in this case, the deserving get their due without having to fight for it.