Jammu, Oct 24: A press conference led by former corporator Sham Lal Basson, along with several prominent community figures, was held to demand the immediate release of pensions for widows, elderly citizens, and physically challenged persons, which had been halted following the issuance of Order No. 156 in September 2022 by the Social Welfare Department.
The order imposed new documentation requirements, including the submission of PHH (Priority Household) ration cards, widow non-remarriage certificates, age certificates, affidavits, voter cards, PAN cards, electricity bills, domicile certificates, and copies of gas cylinder receipts. Despite the efforts of affected individuals to comply, many pension applications were rejected by the Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution (CAPD) department, leaving only a few beneficiaries approved for continued support.
During the conference, Basson and others emphasized the struggles faced by vulnerable citizens who were relying on the meager pensions of ₹1,000 per month. They pointed out that instead of increasing the pension to ₹3,000 per month, as had been expected, the Lieutenant Governor’s administration has suspended even the existing ₹1,000 payouts. By comparison, Haryana provides pensions of ₹3,000 per month, and several other states offer more than ₹1,000 per month to their citizens in similar categories.
One of the key challenges highlighted was the issue of non-bifurcation of ration cards, which has been a longstanding problem. Many eligible individuals have been unable to secure the necessary PHH ration cards due to this bureaucratic delay, further hindering their access to pension benefits.
The speakers made an urgent appeal to Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Social Welfare Minister Ms. Sakeena Masood Itoo to intervene and raise the matter with the central government. They called for the revocation of Order No. 156 or the removal of the PHH ration card condition, to ensure that pensions for widows, elderly, and physically challenged individuals are reinstated without further delay. “We fully hope that justice will be delivered to these aggrieved individuals,” said Basson.
Prominent participants at the press conference included Prof. C. L. Shivgotra, Kuldeep Raj Fouji, Gopal Dass, Om Parkash, Hans Raj, Subash Chander, Mohinder Lal, Makhan Singh, Satya Devi, Ram Lal, Darshana Devi, Sham Lal, Jeet Raj, Jagdish Raj, Raj Devi, Rani Devi, Jeeto Devi, Shanker Dass, Gharu Ram, Krishna Devi, Prakash Chand Verma, and others. More than a hundred widows, elderly, and physically challenged persons attended, amplifying the call for urgent action.
The affected individuals expressed their frustration at the government’s delay in resolving this critical issue, which has left many without the financial support they desperately need to meet their basic daily needs.