The Pioneer 26.11.2010
Several pension cheques issued by MCD dishonouredParvaiz Sultan | New Delhi
In glaring example of grave mismanagement and apathy on part of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, several old-age, widow and disabled pension cheques issued by the civic body are being dishonoured by the bank due to “insufficient funds” in its account. Pensioners, who have been running from pillar to post for almost a year to get their pension released, are now appalled with the virtual fraud played by the MCD. However, the MCD denied that there is some financial crisis.
Sohan Lal, a councilor from Kishankunj Ward of Shahdara south zone said several people have been coming to him with the complaint of cheque bounce cases. “Several pensioners come to my office and residence every day with the complaint. Their cheques have been dishonoured by the bank. They also showed me a letter from the bank which says “unable to obtain payment” for the reason– “Funds Insufficient”. This is a fraud with the people. If the MCD does not have funds, these cheques should not have been issued,” said he.
He further informed MCD has not paid a penny to these pensioners since January 2010 and ten long months. Lal also added the civic body began to release payment after much persuasion from the political wing. “Elected members on several occasions raised the issued of non payment of pensions in Standing Committee and in the House but no avail. But in view of the Diwali and Eid, we pressurized commissioner to distribute cheques before the festival. They bowed to the pressure but we did not know that those cheuqes will be dishonoured.” said the Congress leader.
On the other hand, Director Press and Information MCD Deep Chand Mathur the confusion cropped due to the shifting of our bank account from one bank to another. “The matter is being sorted out, it happened due to some technical glitch. It was not like that MCD is facing scarcity of funds. We have enough funds. Concerned official has been advised to make appropriate measures so that such incident does not occur again in future,” said he. MCD gives Rs 1, 000 as pensions to around 1.90 lakhs in the Capital registered senior citizens, widows, orphans and disabled. After a gap of nearly a year, the civic body started issuing pension cheques in the beginning of this month under the pressure of deliberative wing.
Earlier, the corporation has allegedly stopped releasing relief cheques in the absence of inadequate fund. However, Municipal Commissioner KS Mehra in March has claimed the disbursal of cheques had been stopped in view of the ongoing scrutiny of the pensions.
