INDIA: Poor senior citizens to get pension at doorstep

. RAJKOT, Gujarat / The Times of India / July 16, 2009 Senior citizens aged 65 years and above, falling in the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category, will get a special service from the city's municipal corporation from the next week. An RMC trainee will knock at their doorstep and hand them Rs 200 monthly pension, which they are eligible for under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension scheme. This was reported in the local language Sandesh on July 15. "In a recent survey by Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) of all BPL families of the city, officials identified these citizens. We found some of them to be physically incapable of going anywhere and availing the benefits of these schemes," said city mayor, Sandhya Vyas. "To help these citizens, we will send 50 trainees from Umeed (Hope), an NGO to their doorsteps with the money." The eligible persons will have to furnish proper identity cards. They will also be assisted in filling out the details in the paper work. RMC is likely to start this campaign within the coming days, Another reason for this practice will be to put a check on ineligible persons taking advantage of these government schemes, meant for the needy. [rc] Copyright © 2009 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd.