Chandigarh, February 9
The Member of Parliament from Sirsa, former Union Minister and Congress General Secretary Kumari Selja has strongly objected to the suspension of the Old Age Samman Allowance (old-age pension) in Haryana by linking it to conditions such as Family ID, income verification and electricity bills. Kumari Selja described this as injustice and inhumane treatment of senior citizens.
Selja said that many elderly people in the state, who had been receiving pension for years, are now being deprived of it due to technical and paperwork-related issues. Sometimes errors in the Family ID, sometimes income verification, and sometimes electricity bills are cited as reasons to stop pensions, forcing elderly citizens to make repeated visits to government offices. This situation, she said, reflects administrative insensitivity and is contrary to the dignity and respect of senior citizens. Selja said the Congress party has a clear policy that old-age pension should be provided to all eligible elderly persons in a simple and dignified manner. This social security scheme should not be entangled in unnecessary conditions and complex procedures. Pension, she emphasized, is not a favor but a rightful entitlement of senior citizens.
Selja demanded that conditions such as Family ID, income verification and electricity bills be withdrawn with immediate effect. She also called for the immediate restoration of pensions that have been stopped on these grounds and for the release of all pending arrears. Selja said the government must make the pension process simple, transparent and humane so that no eligible elderly person is harassed. Selja warned that if the government fails to take a positive decision on this issue at the earliest, the Congress party will raise the voice for the dignity and rights of senior citizens from the streets to the legislature.
