03/02/2025
Divyang Persons of Poonch Protest Re-Verification of Pensions
Cite "Unnecessary Harassment," Demand Pension Hike
Rakesh Sharma
03/02/2025
Poonch, J&K – Divyang (specially-abled) individuals of Poonch held a press conference today, led by Mohd Fareed Malik and Abdul Rasheed Shahpuri, to voice their strong disapproval of the Social Welfare Department's decision to conduct yet another re-verification of disability pensions. This comes after a previous verification process that caused significant hardship and difficulties for the already vulnerable community.
The protestors criticized the Director of Social Welfare and the District Social Welfare Officer for the repeated verification exercises, calling it "unnecessary harassment." They argued that divyang persons had already faced numerous challenges during the previous verification, and this new round will only exacerbate their problems. "We are already struggling with a meager pension, and now these officers want to push us into further difficulties," stated one protestor. "We spend thousands from our own pockets for these verifications, while our pension of just ₹1000 is often delayed."
The divyang persons questioned the rationale behind targeting pensioners while neglecting to scrutinize government officers who, they alleged, are "sitting on chairs and drawing hefty salaries without working." They expressed their frustration with the government's apparent lack of concern for their plight.
While appreciating the cooperative attitude of the Health Department, the protestors reserved their sharpest criticism for the Social Welfare Department, particularly the Director and the District Officer. They appealed to Social Welfare Minister, Sakina Itoo, to intervene and take immediate notice of the matter. They demanded an end to the "harassment" in the name of verification and urged the Minister to fulfill the pre-poll promise of increasing their pensions.
The protestors issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Social Welfare Director and the District Officer to revoke the re-verification order. Failure to do so, they warned, will result in a mass hunger strike by divyang persons. "We will take to the streets if our demands are not met," declared a representative of the group. They emphasized their determination to fight for their rights and dignity.