Beneficiaries made to run from pillar to post

Several beneficiaries have been forced to run from pillar to post, in order to avail the benefits under National Social Assistance Programme. Under National Family Benefit Scheme of the programme, Below Poverty Line families are provided monetary assistance, in case of the death of primary bread winner of the family.

The beneficiaries here have not received the benefit, even though the compensation amount has been sanctioned by the government. Mamatha, who was the tahsildar of Mandya district, had issued cheques worth Rs 10,000 to women who had lost their husbands before March 31, 2013, and Rs 20,000 to women, who lost their husbands after the said date. However, officials concerned have not made any efforts to disburse the cheques to the beneficiaries.

On December 9, a letter was dispatched to the beneficiary families from Mandya tahsildar’s office, requesting them to collect the cheques after furnishing necessary details for the same on December 17. Following the letter, over 40 widows from economically backward families had queued up to collect the benefits at the office.

Despite the letter, the women who came from different corners of the taluk were made to wait till noon.

Around 2 pm, staff at the office asked the beneficiaries to return on Thursday, as the tahsildar was on leave and unavailable to issue the cheques. The aggrieved women, approached Deputy Commissioner Ajay Nagbhushan and requested him to distribute the cheques.

Soon, the DC instructed officials at the tahsildar’s office to distribute the cheques. However, when the officials started distributing the cheques, it was learnt that the validity of the cheques had expired, as they had been issued six months ago. They were then requested to collect the cheques  the following day.

Sridhar, a Grade-2 tahsildar said that the delay was due to the negligence of a clerk at the office. He has been transferred and a notice has been issued to him, he added.