Sir,
This is most unfortunate for the pensioners of the State that despite repeated requests and protests at different levels the process of verification of the pensioners has again been ordered. This looks like a ghost let loose by the Govt to hound the pensioners every year. In this electronic age issuing such orders does not seem to be in tune with the present times. Rule 5.71 has been in the Treasury code since long but why so stress is being laid on such rule for the last 2- 3 years only .It is a fact that 70 to 80 percent pensioners draw their monthly pension personally on the withdrawal forms from the J K Bank Branches which is itself a sufficient proof that the pensioner is alive. The fact is that only 20 percent pensioners are drawing pension through their representatives and in such cases also bank does not allow withdrawals beyond a period of 6 months unless the pensioner does not present himself personally or produce a life certificate duly signed by a Gazetted Officer. Then where does the question of yearly verification arise. This way the Govt keep old age pensioners busy and put them to unnecessary troubles at the fag end of their life. There are some pensioners who cannot even walk without an attendant but have to complete such formality otherwise their pension shall be stopped. Why can’t Govt frame such a policy in this electronic age to make the process easy, and I hope the authorities at the helm of affairs shall apply their mind to solve such problems being faced by the pensioners.
When the Bank Managers’ stands authorized to make payments then why they cannot make verification process at their own level and one has un-necessarily to carry the P P O halves from the concerned Bank Branches to the respective Treasury officers for doing the needful. J & K Bank officers are very competent and well versed with such rules and can complete such formalities at their own level without carrying such important documents by the pensioners from pillar to post and put it to risk of misplacement in the process.
Yours etc….
M L Meer
A.O. Retd
A/P Indore MP
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