The National People’s Party (NPP) Mokokchung district has exhibited their dissatisfaction over the claimed ‘harassment’ of senior pensioners by government officials and the State Bank of India (SBI).
In order to continue receiving their pensions, the old people will have to submit a life certificate every year, stated NPP Mokokchung unit in a press statement on December 4, making it a mandatory action.
The ‘old and frail pensioners’ needs to queue outside the Treasury Offices and various branches of SBI in order to collect or submit their life certificates every year, it added.
It questioned, “How can the government and the State Bank of India expect every senior citizen to come in person and appear before the treasury or bank officials when many of them are suffering from old age ailments and are bed-ridden?”
The officials were requested to not harass the old pensioners during the pandemic by “forcing them to appear in person for collecting and submitting their life certificates.”
While acknowledging the initiative of the Government of India in opening an online application and submission of life certificates, the NPP Mokokchung wondered how the poor and helpless senior citizens
Over an online application for submission of life certificate, NPP Mokokchung said “some of whom do not even know how to operate a simple key pad mobile phone”.
The pension services should be taken to the old people, suggested the NPP Mokokchung unit to the government.
It added, “This will definitely ensure that the credibility of the process of life certificate is also dealt with genuinely while also ensuring that the senior citizens are not unduly harassed in the name of a certificate,”.
In other suggestion it said that the SBI could come up with a door-to-door service or set up Customer Service Points in all the villages.
It suggested, “Another alternative could be to entrust the local authorities including the Village Councils, GBs, Pastors, etc. to take the onus and responsibility of certifying the life certificates by physical verifying the old age people in their own respective villages or colonies”.
“it is high time for those in power and credible positions to double check their priorities and give their best services for the public”, it further stated.
Nagaland : NPP’s disappointment over harassment of senior pensioners
