Unable to grease officials’ palm, a disabled woman has been running from pillar to post to prove that she is ‘alive’ and that her pension should be continued. On not getting the bribe, officials marked her as ‘dead’ in Government records.
As per reports, Ram Devi (30) of Asratha hamlet of Vikas Khand Tarabganj in Gonda has been getting disabled pension from the Government. A few months back, her bank account (number- 22225672022) at Daughraghat branch of Allahabad Bank in Gonda was closed by the bank.
On not getting pension, she and her husband contacted bank officials. They were shocked to learn from the branch manager that they were marked as ‘dead’ by the office of Block Development Officer who directed that the operations to the account be suspended.
When Ram Devi contacted the office of Block Development Officer (BDO) of Tarabganj, she found to her shock that she had indeed been marked ‘dead’ in the records. Devi said she went to submit her life certificate on April 12, 2017 at Tarabganj Vikas Khand office and contacted Gram Panchayat Adhikari to sign relevant papers. However, the officials present there demanded money and when she refused to oblige, they asked her to leave, she said.