Expressing concern over the state government’s negligent attitude towards its directives on distribution of pensions following volunteers being asked not to be involved in pensions distribution, besides elections related works, the Election Commission of India (ECI) once again made it clear to ensure its previous orders.
It may be recalled that during first week of April, the government ignored EC orders and stage managed protest demonstrations were held at village secretariats, in an attempt to create uproar against opposition parties for objecting volunteers’ involvement. The ruling party also plotted to engineer resignations of a large number of volunteers.
Chief Secretary KS Jawahar Reddy joined in this plot by ignoring EC directions. Sensing that the government is attempting to repeat the same drama during the first week of May also, the ECI has once again given clear instructions.
It has directed the state government to ensure that the beneficiaries are not inconvenienced in the distribution of pensions. It said that guidelines issued last month should be followed for cash transfer. It asked Chief Secretary Jawahar Reddy to implement those guidelines realistically.
It has been revealed that the pension can be distributed using the permanent employees and this matter has been clarified in the previous orders. The ECI deplored that there have been many complaints about the way the government is following the distribution of pension.
ECI said that it has come to their attention that the beneficiaries have faced serious difficulties in the distribution of pension. It has been revealed that in the previous guidelines it has been said that distribution can be done through electronic methods as well as through employees.
The EC once again instructed CS Jawahar Reddy to make arrangements for the distribution without any inconvenience to the beneficiaries of the pension. However, the ECI ordered the CS not to use volunteers anywhere and use only government employees as an alternative.
The EC has issued orders to take measures so that the elderly people do not suffer. It expressed impatience with Jawahar Reddy’s decision that pensions cannot be distributed door-to-door. It is feared that the government is once again resorting to conspiracy to delay pension distribution, so as to blame the opposition.
