More than 20 lakh pensioners in Punjab have not got their claims for
about four months. They include the elderly, widows, the physically
challenged as well as dependents. The state, under several schemes, is
supposed to provide support for them, the most vulnerable. But state
government officials say that there is simply no money to pay the
pension, since the state coffers are running almost empty.
Yet, Parkash Singh Badal government has instead of cutting back, added to the financial burden by giving all ministers and legislators a salary hike between 66 and 100 per cent. Not just that, it is also spending big bucks on luxury car and aircraft. The government has called fresh tenders to buy a Mercedes L500 V8 vehicle for the chief minister, which will cost about Rs.7 crore. The cash-strapped government has already purchased two choppers for the chief minister and deputy chief minister by spending Rs108 crore earlier this year (Rs.38 crore spent on buying Bell 429 aircraft and Rs.70 crore on a fixed wing aircraft).
In comparison, at an average of Rs.250 given to every pensioners, the state's pension bill is Rs.135 crore a month. But, sources in the government says, the administration has to yet release Rs.450 crore, running a three-month deficit.
There are 20.08 lakh pensioners in the state, out of which 14.4 lakh are old-age pensioners, 2.9 lakh widows, 1.24 lakh dependents and 1.47 lakh are the physically challenged. Gurdaspur and Pathankot districts have the largest number of pensioners (1.41 lakh).
The opposition Congress accuses the state government of ignoring the needy. It also said that politics was being played over pensions, claiming that the claimants in the chief minister's own constituency, as well as those of his son (deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal) and his member of Parliament wife Harsimrat Kaur were being given their monthly dues. According to the sources, pensions have not been released by the government in many districts since August but in July too, pensions were reportedly given only in these select areas: Faridkot, Ferozepur, Mansa, Bhatinda and Muktsar. Some 1.4 lakh beneficiaries in Fazilka also got paid in September; that happens to be part of the state's health and family welfare minister Surjit Singh Jyani's constituency.
"The SAD-BJP government is discriminating with the constituencies of the Congress party. In Kapurthala district no pension has been released since March. The Badals always give priority to Mukatsar and Bhatinda districts and spend maximum amount of funds in these districts," said Sukhpal Singh Khaira, spokesperson, Punjab Congress.
Social Security, Women and Child Development department officials said pensions will be released as and when the budget is released. Jyani, however, claimed that the process to release pensions was on. "The process to release the pensions is on. There is no paucity of funds. All pensioners will get their pensions soon," he told Mail Today.
Source : India Today , 17th Nov 2013
Yet, Parkash Singh Badal government has instead of cutting back, added to the financial burden by giving all ministers and legislators a salary hike between 66 and 100 per cent. Not just that, it is also spending big bucks on luxury car and aircraft. The government has called fresh tenders to buy a Mercedes L500 V8 vehicle for the chief minister, which will cost about Rs.7 crore. The cash-strapped government has already purchased two choppers for the chief minister and deputy chief minister by spending Rs108 crore earlier this year (Rs.38 crore spent on buying Bell 429 aircraft and Rs.70 crore on a fixed wing aircraft).
In comparison, at an average of Rs.250 given to every pensioners, the state's pension bill is Rs.135 crore a month. But, sources in the government says, the administration has to yet release Rs.450 crore, running a three-month deficit.
There are 20.08 lakh pensioners in the state, out of which 14.4 lakh are old-age pensioners, 2.9 lakh widows, 1.24 lakh dependents and 1.47 lakh are the physically challenged. Gurdaspur and Pathankot districts have the largest number of pensioners (1.41 lakh).
The opposition Congress accuses the state government of ignoring the needy. It also said that politics was being played over pensions, claiming that the claimants in the chief minister's own constituency, as well as those of his son (deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal) and his member of Parliament wife Harsimrat Kaur were being given their monthly dues. According to the sources, pensions have not been released by the government in many districts since August but in July too, pensions were reportedly given only in these select areas: Faridkot, Ferozepur, Mansa, Bhatinda and Muktsar. Some 1.4 lakh beneficiaries in Fazilka also got paid in September; that happens to be part of the state's health and family welfare minister Surjit Singh Jyani's constituency.
"The SAD-BJP government is discriminating with the constituencies of the Congress party. In Kapurthala district no pension has been released since March. The Badals always give priority to Mukatsar and Bhatinda districts and spend maximum amount of funds in these districts," said Sukhpal Singh Khaira, spokesperson, Punjab Congress.
Social Security, Women and Child Development department officials said pensions will be released as and when the budget is released. Jyani, however, claimed that the process to release pensions was on. "The process to release the pensions is on. There is no paucity of funds. All pensioners will get their pensions soon," he told Mail Today.
Source : India Today , 17th Nov 2013
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