Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR, Sept 5: After firm assurance by Minister for Public Works Department, Naeem Akhtar, the Action Committee for Welfare of SWD beneficiaries called off its indefinite hunger strike in favour of their long pending demands regarding pension related issues.
The Minister issued on the spot directions to Deputy Commissioner Udhampur to look into these public issues and ensure an early redressal to the same. He said that these people are poor by destiny and it becomes our prime and moral responsibility to take care of their needs and requirements and help them selflessly which is real service to Almighty.
Prominent social activist and DAHWA chairperson, S S Sumbria, under whose supervision the hunger strike was being held, submitted a memorandum of their demands to the Minister. He urged upon the Minister to make personal intervention in sorting out these issues of poor and under privileged segments of the society who were suffering hardships just because of lackadaisical approach of few officials. He informed the Minister that there was strong resentment among the people over the apathetic attitude of the department towards the issues of poor handicapped, destitutes, old aged and widows who are facing hardships for no fault of their.
People from several villages, including Channi Mansar, Majalta, Badi Garh, SK Bair, Dhamma, Nili, Bharnara, Paletar, Palnoo, Babey, Chor Panjian, Chor Motu, Ghar Samnabanj, Kail and adjoining areas were present on the occasion.
The demands inter alia included early release of pending pension arrears in the backdrop of pension enhancement to Rs 1000, sanctioning of pension cases lying pending since March 2009, constitution of a committee to look into the irregularities in BPL lists, equal share to people of Majalta in implementation of various Government schemes and distribution of artificial limbs, scooties and tri-cycles for handicapped beneficiaries, prioritization of pension sanctioned to deserving who are above 70 years old, in case of death of a beneficiary pension be given to poor and needy of the area, survey and coverage of deserving under marriage assistance scheme etc.
MLA R S Pathania, DC Udhampur and senior officers were present on the occasion.
The beneficiaries, who were on hunger strike, included Kali Devi, Chainta Devi, Pushpa Devi, Dhani Ram and M L Gosain.
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