RTI reveals discrimination with widows of J&K

Newspoint Bureau

Jammu Tawi, September 21 Expressing the plight of the widow and old age pensioners in the state of Jammu and Kashmir an RTI reply has shockingly revealed that the social welfare pension to the widows, old age people has been increased by a meager amount of Rs. 25, twenty five in last 15 years whereas the salaries of the State MLAS's, are hiked by more  than 500 times during the same period of time. While sharing the details of his RTI reply, Balvinder Singh, Convener Sangarsh RTI Movement said that he has  filed two different RTI applications to know about the hike in widow pension and the simultaneously to know about the hike in the salaries of the state MLA's during the last 15 years. Expressing displeasure Balvinder said that on one hand the government pats its shoulders to ban the evil practice  of Sati in the country whereas at the same time it is ashamed to admit that the condition of the widows in the  state of Jammu and Kashmir has turned bad to worse with time. Even today the most of the widows of the state are abundant from their houses, they have no places to go and unable to maintain themselves and the paltry amount these unfortunates receive from the state government as the widow pension is nothing short of a  cruel joke which the state government making of these widows and moreover this meager amount which is the  only source of income is often irregular. RTI reveals that the monthly salaries of the MLA's and MLC's in Jammu and Kashmir was Rs. 17000 in 2002, Rs. 40,000 in 2006 and raised more than double in 2009 and it reached 85,000 and which is continuing. Whereas the pension a widow, divorcee and old age people receives from the state social welfare department as on date is just Rs. 200 per month which was last revised in 2003 only when the monthly pension was Rs. 175 only. In these last ten years from 2003 to till date the pension has not been revised even after  the rising graph of inflation, the political class of the state has remained totally insensitive to the miseries  of the poor and helpless.

JKNEWSPOINT: 22/09/2013:  http://www.jknewspoint.com/newsdet.aspx?q=22187

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In 13 years, legislators’ salary increased by 400%, destitute pension by Rs 25

By Reader Correspondent

Published: Sun, 22 September 2013 12:38 AM

JAMMU: In last 13 years, successive governments in Jammu and Kashmir increased the pension to widows and elderly by Rs 25 while the legislators’ salary witnessed 400 per cent increase, an RTI reply has revealed.
“The monthly salaries of MLAs and MLCs in J&K was Rs 17,000 in 2002, Rs 40,000 in 2006, and Rs 85,000 in 2009.  The monthly pension received by a widow, a divorcee, or an old age person from the state’s Social Welfare Department as on date is just Rs 200 while as they received Rs 175 per month in 2003,” revealed the government’s reply to an RTI by Balvinder Singh, convener of the Sangarsh RTI Movement.
Balvinder said the condition of widows in the state of has only turned from bad to worse.
“Even today most of the widows of the state are abandoned from their houses, they have no places to go and are unable to maintain themselves. The paltry amount paid to them by the government is nothing short of a cruel joke. Even this amount is not paid to them regularly,” he said.
“In these last 13 years, the government did not revise the pension even after the rising graph of inflation. The political class of the state has remained totally insensitive to the miseries of the poor and helpless,” he added.  

 

KASHMIR READER: 22/09/2013: http://www.kashmirreader.com/09222013-ND-in-13-years-legislators%E2%80%99-salary-increased-by-400-destitute-pension-by-rs-25-21035.aspx