FEDSEN calls for enquiry into circumstances leading to suicide of Dhilwan senior citizen

Ludhiana, April 20, 2015: Expressing shock and anguish at the death of Som Nath, an 83 years old elderly person of Dhilwan, District Kapurthala due to delay in disbursement of old age pension to him, S P Karkara, President of Federation of Senior Citizens’ Associations, Punjab (FEDSEN) has called for a thorough enquiry into the circumstances which compelled him to commit suicide and whether this tragedy could be averted by timely action on the part of concerned authorities. 

Karkara stated that FEDSEN, which is the only state level organization of senior citizens in Punjab representing more than 40 senior citizen associations of the state, has been  repeatedly requesting the Punjab Government for the last more than two years to increase old age pension to Rs. 1000 per month and to ensure its timely payment.  He informed that in his January 15, 2015 letter to Chief Minister Punjab, he had requested for early resumption of payment of old age pension, its increase to Rs. 1000 per month and for strengthening Social Security Dedicated Fund created in year 2005 to ensure regular payment of old age pension and relief to widows, destitute children and handicapped persons etc., but this letter went unacknowledged. He pointed out that in its 2012 Election Manifesto, Shiromani Akali Dal had promised to raise old age pension to Rs 800 per month and similarly BJP had promised to raise it to Rs. 750 per month.  Terming increase of Rs. 50 per month announced by Minister for Social Security, Punjab as totally inadequate, he appealed to Punjab Government to immediately increase old age pension to Rs 800 per month promised by Akali Dal in its Election Manifesto. He also appealed to Chief Minister to grant time for an early meeting to discuss problems of senior citizens.