Harish Rao slams withholding of senior citizens’ pensions in Mancherial

Former Minister T Harish Rao condemns Congress government for withholding pensions of elderly citizens, citing unethical practices linked to deceased family members' tax arrears

Hyderabad: Former Minister and senior BRS MLA T Harish Rao lashed out at the Congress government for withholding an elderly woman’s social security pension in Mancherial district and adjusting the amount towards property tax arrears of her deceased son in Mancherial district.

He condemned the officials’ actions, demanding them to stop such illegal and unethical practices.

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Around 15 senior citizens including Doke Chukkamma, were reportedly denied their monthly pension of Rs 2,016 for January in Namnooru village of Hazipur mandal in Mancherial district.

When they approached the local gram panchayat, the officials informed them that their pension amount had been adjusted towards property tax arrears.

Chukkamma’s son had passed away and despite her requests to adjust the amount in monthly installments, the officials refused.

Calling the move unjust and inhuman, Harish Rao condemned linking pension disbursals to property tax arrears.

He termed the actions of the officials as cruel, for pitting family members against one another.

“If the son fails to pay property tax, stopping the pension of the elderly mother is inhumane,” he stated, adding that such actions jeopardise the livelihoods of senior citizens who rely on pensions for survival.

He also labeled the government’s approach as duplicitous, pointing out the irony of promising Rs 4,000 monthly pensions during elections, but now denying even the existing Rs 2,016 under dubious pretexts.

He demanded the immediate release of withheld pensions to 15 elderly beneficiaries in Namnooru gram panchayat and wanted the State government to take measures to ensure that such incidents do not recur.