Dharwad: SUCI(C) seeks release of pending social security pensions

Several people led by office-bearers of the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) (SUCI-C) staged a protest in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Dharwad on Tuesday (October 13), demanding the immediate release of social security pensions that have reportedly remained unpaid for the past seven months.

The protesters, who came from villages and slums from across Dharwad district, raised slogans against the government for withholding pensions that provide a crucial source of livelihood for elderly people, widows and persons with disabilities.

SUCI(C) Dharwad district secretary Lakshman Jadagannavar said the party’s agitation in August had prompted the government to raise the annual income eligibility limit for pensions to ₹1.2 lakh. However, pension payments had still not reached beneficiaries even two months after the intervention, he alleged.

Citing rising prices of essential commodities and the severe hardship faced by farmers and agricultural workers amid drought conditions, he termed the suspension of pensions “anti-poor and inhumane”.

Mr. Jadagannavar claimed that pensions of 18,06,032 people across Karnataka had been suspended. The re-verification of documents had forced economically vulnerable beneficiaries to make repeated efforts to submit the required records, he said, adding that many had been waiting for months even after furnishing the documents.

Elderly people, widows and persons with disabilities, particularly those without family support and those suffering from ailments such as diabetes and hypertension, were struggling to meet their basic needs, he said.

He demanded the immediate restoration of pensions, an increase in the monthly assistance and payment of all arrears due to eligible beneficiaries.

SUCI(C) district committee member Gangadhar Badiger questioned the government’s decision to discontinue pensions for the poor while legislators had secured substantial increases in their salaries. He alleged that successive governments had failed to address the grievances of ordinary people and called for a stronger public movement to press for their demands.

District committee member Bhavan Shankar S. Gouda presided over the protest. Sharanagouda, Madhulata Goudar and Deepa Dharwad and others led the protest.