Haryana News: Aam Aadmi Party’s national media in-charge, Anurag Dhanda, on Friday strongly criticised the changes made by Haryana government to the rules for old-age pensions. He said that this decision by Chief Minister Nayab Singh’s government is extremely insensitive. These changes are aimed at snatching food from the plates of the elderly, and thousands of poor farmers and senior citizens in the state could be deprived of their pensions.
Haryana News: Using agricultural land and crop sales as a basis is wrong
Anurag Dhanda stated that the government is now planning to reduce the pensions of elderly individuals who own more than four acres of land or who sell their crops through the “Meri Fasal-Mera Byora” (My Crop-My Details) portal. He alleged that the government is considering even a crop sale of Rs 1.80 lakh as a measure of prosperity, whereas crop sales do not represent net income.
It includes the cost of cultivation, labour, seeds, fertilisers, and ploughing expenses. Dhanda also stated that Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has failed to comprehend the distinction between poverty and wealth. On one hand, the BJP promises to give farmers Rs 5100, while on the other hand, it is bent on snatching away the pensions of poor farmers and the elderly.
Anurag Dhanda News: Including family income is also unjust
He explained that in many cases, the income of other family members of the elderly is also being added, even though they live separately. This decision has distressed poor senior citizens and forced them to run around to government offices. Dhanda said that it is extremely shameful that instead of serving the elderly, the government is forcing them to endure mental stress and unnecessary hardship.
Old-age pension is the right of the elderly
Anurag Dhanda clearly stated that old-age pension is not a government favour, but a constitutional and social right of the elderly. The BJP government is trying to snatch away this right in the name of portals and technical rules, which the Aam Aadmi Party will not accept under any circumstances. The Livelihood of 2.3 Million Elderly People at Stake
He stated that approximately 2.3 million elderly people in Haryana depend on old-age pensions. If the government truly wants to respect the elderly, it should stop burdening them with the errors of the online portal. Otherwise, it will become clear that the government is pursuing a policy of depriving the elderly and farmers of their rights.
Demand for Immediate Withdrawal of the Rules
Anurag Dhanda demanded that all proposed changes related to old-age pensions be immediately withdrawn. He also demanded that the rule considering the total sale of agricultural produce as income be abolished and that no eligible elderly person’s pension be stopped. He further demanded that the pension system be made simple, transparent, and humane.
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