Centenarian's Pension Quest Ends Successfully After District Intervention
In a heartening development from Mathura, a 102-year-old woman is finally set to receive her old-age pension for the very first time, following her direct appeal to the district administration. Rambhuli Devi, accompanied by her 80-year-old son who works as a daily wage labourer, approached District Magistrate Chandra Prakash Singh's office to highlight that she had never received any pension benefits despite her advanced age.
Swift Administrative Action Ensures Relief
Upon hearing her grievance, Singh immediately directed the social welfare department to take urgent steps to initiate the pension without delay. Officials promptly completed her biometric verification and commenced the process of opening her pension account. The administration has confirmed that the pension amount is expected to be credited to her bank account in the coming days, marking a significant milestone for the elderly woman.
Rambhuli Devi presented her birth certificate, which verifies her birth year as 1925, providing crucial documentation for the application. District Social Welfare Officer Nagendra Pal Singh explained that the procedure first required updating her Aadhaar details, a prerequisite for moving the application forward. He noted that such updates typically take 24 to 48 hours, after which the remaining formalities would be finalized.
Family's Persistence and Official Priority Processing
Sangeeta Devi, the granddaughter-in-law of Rambhuli Devi, recounted that the family met with the District Magistrate, who assured them of swift approval for the pension. The administration processed the case on a priority basis after the centenarian personally appeared before the officials, underscoring the human touch in governance.
Recalling the encounter, Singh shared, "Three days ago, during our public meeting and grievance hearing, a woman aged over 100 years from Inderpur Colony came here with her son. She had heard that the government assists poor people through various welfare schemes, but she was unaware that an old-age pension could also be initiated quite easily."
He further elaborated, "Her son is around 80 years old and works as a labourer. We summoned the officials of the concerned department, and within three days her old-age pension will be approved and ensured."
Journalist's Role and Call for Greater Awareness
Singh revealed that when Rambhuli Devi recently celebrated her 102nd birthday, a local journalist informed her about government welfare schemes and advised her to visit the Collectorate. This guidance proved pivotal in her quest for pension benefits.
Seizing the opportunity to advocate for broader awareness, Singh highlighted that several schemes are available for vulnerable groups, including old-age pension, destitute women's pension, disability pension, and assistance under other welfare programmes. "Everyone should be aware of these schemes. Once people are informed, they may not even need to visit government offices, as applications can also be submitted online," he stated, expressing gratitude to the journalist who directed the elderly woman to the administration.
This case not only brings relief to Rambhuli Devi and her family but also serves as a reminder of the importance of accessible information and proactive governance in ensuring that welfare benefits reach those in need, especially the elderly and marginalized sections of society.
