DIMAPUR, MARCH 21 (MExN): The ACAUT Nagaland today stated that the collection of Rs 2000 from pensioners in Nagaland is “nothing but a scam to siphon off money from our senior citizens which is simply unforgiveable.” “The ACAUT Nagaland is also of the opinion that if one were to dig deeper into the matter there would also be many bogus beneficiaries,” it claimed. It came to this conclusion after having met the Dimapur District Pensioners Association (DDPA) and the Senior Treasury Officer (STO), following news of the collection.
A press note from the ACAUT asked the DDPA to immediately refund the Rs.2000 collected from pensioners including the Rs.10 for the forms which it had collected. The ACAUT further appealed to the Finance Commissioner to consider the extra ordinary circumstance of the ROP coinciding with the financial year end and asked that more time be given to pensioners.
“If the Department of Treasury has not authorized the DDPA to distribute the forms in OM of finance department annexure II, then why is the DDPA distributing it?” it questioned. It further asked if it is not the duty of the Treasury Department to tabulate the ROP and disburse pension. Why is it allowing an NGO to do it right under its nose and in its premises? The ACAUT posed.
Further, if the Treasury Department is going to issue the forms and redo the whole arduous exercise of tabulation, who will compensate for the hours of ordeal that our seniors have been put through? The ACAUT questioned. Stating that even if 5 thousand of the 20000 pensioners in Dimapur paid Rs.2000 each, the amount would come to Rs 1 crore, the ACAUT asked why the DDPA needs so much money. It also questioned as to why pensioners are being charged Rs 10 for forms when they are supposed to be free. Finally, it expressed surprise that except for Dimapur, no district is collectsing such amount from pensioners.
