Tirupati: Municipal Corporation of Tirupati officials launch re-check of cancelled pensions

Tirupati: The outcry following the stoppage of YSR pensions to several thousands in the city coupled with the strong protests from political parties seeking restoration of suspended pensions forced the Municipal Corporation of Tirupati (MCT) to take up re-verification of pensions which were stopped, on Thursday.

There are about 16,000 beneficiaries of the `YSR Pension' scheme in which more than 4,000 were stopped following the ward level survey by the newly set up ward secretariat personnel in the city triggering resentment from the beneficiaries including aged, widows and single women and also protests from political parties.

There has been large scale discontentment among those who were denied pension benefits and the protests by opposition parties naturally worried the ruling YSRCP party as it will affect the party interests in the local body elections.

Against the backdrop, the government decided to take up the re-verification of the pensions which were stopped recently.

Accordingly, the MCT took up the verification of more than 4,000 pensions which were stopped. Teams comprising Corporation Revenue Officials ward level welfare and development committee secretary and other personnel on Thursday started verification in the city on war-foot basis to complete it by February 15.

Municipal Corporation Commissioner PS Girisha held an urgent meeting of revenue and ward officials on Wednesday seeking them to complete the verification by Saturday and upload the details to Commissioner Website for finalising the verification.

All the objections found in the social audit resulting in the suspension of pensions should be examined for sorting out the issue of eligibility for restoring thepensions, Commissioner told the ward officer and revenue personnel. Special counters will also be set up at RDO office for the verification of pension details and the final list of eligible beneficiaries list should be displayed in the ward secretariat of 50 divisions in the city by 20th of this month, Commissioner said. The re-verification proving to be a herculean task to the municipal staff who are virtually on their toes as they have to complete the work of verification of more than 4,000 beneficiaries in 50 division by Saturday.