Compulsory ‘No Remarriage’ Certificate – Senior Citizens’ Plight Continues
Senior citizens drawing Tamil Nadu state government spouse pension are being put into lot of hardship due to the compulsory no-remarriage certificate that the Government insists upon. The rule applies even if the pensioner is over the age of 80!
Personal interview of the pensioners – Personal interviews are being held at the district pension disbursal offices from the first of this month to confirm that the pensioner is alive and is in good health. The process will continue until June and interviews are scheduled based on the bank at which they draw their pensions. The lists have already been announced.
It’s heartbreaking to see these pensioners, who, until the age of 58, were in responsible posts, now slowly shuffle into these offices for their life certificates in order to draw their pensions. They encounter a lot of difficulties during these trips.
The order issued by the Tamil Nadu State Government on 31-03-2015 is behind all this hardship. In addition to confirming that they are very much alive, these pensioners, even if they are over the age of 80, are required to submit certificates that they haven’t remarried after their spouse’s death. Never-married pensioners are required to submit certificates that they have not got married. These certificates have to be attested by a government official.
This has triggered resentment among pensioners.