In a fresh development that hinting at a growing uncertainty over the financial stability of the Telangana state, the Aasara scheme beneficiaries especially the disabled persons in the state are waiting with bated breath for pensions which have not been disbursed since the last two months.
Beneficiaries especially the disabled people keep on visiting the GHMC to enquire about the release of the government dole. However, they were forced to return empty handed after knowing that no release was yet made by the government.
Unlike in the past, when the pensions used to be disbursed at the end of the month, this time the delay crossed the deadline of two consecutive months and entered into the third mensem in the row.
“Earlier the delay lasted for a month, however, now it dragged on to two long months and entered into the third month. Provisionally, the pension should be delivered on or before 5th of every month but the delay has gradually extended to this end only to compound the misery of the disabled people,” rued Syeda Begum, a disabled lady from Rajendranagar.
Dejected over the delay is Aasara pensions, Mahboob, a disabled person from Gagan Pahad area said, “We are witnessing inordinate delay in disbursement of pension since last two years. Earlier, the delay was only for a month as it was delivered somewhere between 20-24th of every month. Now the delay dragged into the third month as the pension of the month of June has not yet been released. It appears that the government is least sincere in addressing issues of disabled people despite the fact that this particular community is considered a most vulnerable section of the society.”
“Every time we visit the concerned GHMC office or made a call to the officials concerned they were ready with a canned response saying we can’t do anything until the funds released from the government,” said Syed Feroz, a disabled leader adding that, “the officials simply returned people with a reply that no funds have been released so far from the government to begin the disbursement process.
When contacted, a senior official on the condition of anonymity said, “The disbursement of pension has just begun in mainly rural areas. Hopefully the beneficiaries in urban areas too will get the same soon.”
When asked about the inordinate delay in disbursement of Aasara pension, he said, “It is not from our end. The disbursement hold-up is due to delay in release of funds. We are helpless until the government releases the funds for the same.”
