Pensioner struggles to prove he is indeed alive

Pensioner struggles to prove he is indeed alive
According to official records, Puthenveettil Bhaskaran is in fact dead.

Pathanapuram: A senior citizen is in dire straits here as he has been repeatedly denied his old age pension by the panchayat office as he is deemed to be a deceased person!

According to official records, Puthenveettil Bhaskaran is in fact dead.

Incidentally, Bhaskaran had been included in the panchayat’s list of expired persons last year too. Following which, he had submitted the necessary documents to the panchayat and applied for the pension again. The procedures in this regard are yet to be completed.

Denied pension for being dead, Bhaskaran showed the officials at the panchayat office his Aadhaar card and other crucial documents. However, the officials declined to consider his plea and said that they could take any action only on the recommendation of the District Collector.Now Bhaskaran has no option but to meet the Kollam Collector to get the record straight. The pension is his sole means of income.

Earlier, corrections could be carried out in the pension documents at the panchayat office itself. However, with local body services going online, such changes can be made only at the district office. The new development has dealt a double blow to this hapless man.

When contacted, panchayat officials said that a request has been sent to the district office to include Bhaskaran in the list of pension beneficiaries.

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