Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 15: The physically challenged persons including deaf and dumb, orthopedically and visually disabled persons here today staged a protest demonstration demanding resumption of already sanctioned pensions in their favour.
A representative of these people told reporters that J&K government in its order number 156 stopped pensions to the physically challenged persons after the month of February this year.
He said that physically challenged persons used to get Rs. 1000 per month as pension and this continued till February 2023.
“The concerned authorities have issued a format in which 10 things were demanded to be sent online to the Social Welfare Department (SWD) for verification after which the pensions may start,” he maintained adding: “Those who were already drawing pensions should be given pensions and the new order should be left for the new applicants seeking pensions.”
The representative of the protesters also said that if the pensioners already drawing pensions lack some document, the same shall be taken from them and their pensions should be resumed.
“We met Sheetal Nanda, Commissioner Secretary SWD who said that due to some technical issue record of the pensioners was not available and that is why it has been demanded afresh,” he continued.
He further said that Nanda has agreed that when the required documents are sent online the pensions will be released right from the month of March itself.
“We demand that in this time of soaring prices of essential commodities the pension shall be hiked to Rs. 3000 per month,” he further said.
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