Over 24,000 not paid pension in Delhi for 5 months

NEW DELHI: Satyapal Ahluwalia is a patient of Parkinson’s and his right arm is paralysed. His wife is suffering from high blood pressure and thyroid issues. Both need medicines and treatment every month, which amount to about Rs 10,000. Ahluwalia, however, has not received his pension for the past five months, because of which he is facing a tough time.
He retired in 2009 as superintendent, vigilance department of unified MCD, and is among the 24,000 persons who have not received their pension since May from North Delhi Municipal Corporation.
Unlike regular employees, it is difficult for these elderly pensioners to run from pillar to post and hold protests to get their dues.
Besides the monthly income, these pensioners are also unable to avail medical benefits at polyclinics and empanelled hospitals despite being covered by a lifetime medical insurance. This has only added to their hardships.
“I have not been getting any medicine from the dispensaries. Non-payment of pension forced me to use my savings initially. Later, I had to borrow some money from my relatives. But how long can we survive like this? Money was deducted from our account for the lifetime medical insurance, but we can’t avail it. The civic agency has no resources at its empanelled hospitals, which refuse to allow cashless treatment,” Ahluwalia claimed.
Deep Mathur, former director, press and information, MCD, said that there was no one to stand for them. “We may have retired but pensions are as important to us as salaries for others. There are many senior citizens who are living away from children and need money desperately to run their household expenses,” he added.
Rajesh Joiya who retired in 2018, said that they recently met the north corporation commissioner who cited lack of funds for the non-payment. “I am able to deal with household expenses because of my wife’s pension. But her pension amount is not enough to deal with any medical emergency,” he added.