Chikkamagaluru: MLC and former minister Dr Ravi C.T. on Wednesday urged the Karnataka government to immediately release pension arrears pending for the past six to eight months for more than 67,000 differently-abled persons, senior citizens and widows in Chikkamagaluru district.
He was speaking at a protest organised by the Chikkamagaluru city and rural BJP units outside the Taluk Office against the alleged suspension of pension payments.
Ravi said several widows, elderly people and differently-abled persons had expressed distress during his visits to rural areas over the non-payment of pensions. He said the delay had caused severe hardship to beneficiaries who depend on the payments for their livelihood.
The issue had been raised in the Legislative Assembly and during the KDP meeting with the district in-charge minister, where an assurance was reportedly given that the pending amount would be released in a lump sum. However, the funds were yet to be released, he alleged.
Ravi also alleged that several houses sanctioned under schemes, including Ashraya, remained incomplete. He demanded that the government complete the sanctioned houses and hand them over to beneficiaries.
He questioned alleged irregularities and corruption in government services and sought clarification on allegations of commissions in the supply of medicines to government hospitals.
Ravi also alleged delays in the disbursement of funds under various guarantee schemes, including Gruha Lakshmi. He urged the government to prioritise social security payments to beneficiaries.
Addressing Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, he said, “We need a ‘Shiva’ who wipes the tears of the poor, not a ‘Shiva’ who brings tears to their eyes.”
He demanded that pending guarantee scheme funds and pension arrears be released, saying the government should prioritise welfare payments over expenditure on festivals when people were facing financial difficulties.
Ravi warned that the BJP would intensify its agitation if the pension funds were not released immediately.
BJP district president M.R. Devaraj Shetty, district vice-presidents Kanakaraj Aras and B.G. Somashekhar, general secretary Ravindra Belavadi, SC Morcha district president Kuruvangi Venkatesh and city and rural mandal leaders were among those who participated in the protest.