A new service in the basket, Umri Panchyat, Madhya Pradesh
This narrates the story of Narmadi Bai (64 years) who was not even aware of the fact that she was actually entitled to receive pension but the assistance of Soochna Seva helped her avail this benefit.
One day while the Soochna Seva team was visiting BPL families in a remote village called Madhusudhangarh of Guna district of state of Madhya Pradesh, they came across a small hut where lived a below poverty family of Narmardi Bai with small malnourished children and destitute elderly members. The Sevaks started briefing her husband and son about the benefits of Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY), a scheme launched by the government of India. To avail the benefits of the scheme each member is required to have a bank account. So the Soochna sevak started telling them about the benefits of having a bank account but the skeptical husband refuted the idea claiming that these schemes are useless! However, the son suggested his father “if it is the team from Soochna Seva then we should definitely listen to them”
Then the team elaborated the PMJDY and other various beneficial schemes. While explaining about the social security pension scheme one of the sevaks asked the husband if he receives any pension. The man nodded in affirmation and told that he gets Rs.150 every month. Now they enquired his wife, Narmardi Bai, if she gets a pension? The woman denied of receiving any such benefits and the question of the sevak left her family surprised, the fact that even the elderly women of the house was entitled to a pension was unexpected by them.
The Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS) is a non-contributory old age pension scheme that covers Indians who are 60 years and above and live below the poverty line. The pension scheme is part of the National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) that was launched by the Ministry of Rural Development in August, 1995.
The sevaks requested to see her voter card, aadhar card and bank passbook. On checking they found out that she had everything except the passbook. Clearly the woman did not have a bank account.
The sevak then politely reminded Narmardi Bai’s husband that while the team was telling them about the benefits of having a bank account he refuted the idea but does he realize its benefits now? The incident opened the eyes of the man.
The Sevaks asked them to gather every document required to apply for the scheme, printed a photocopy of Narmardi Bai’s voter id/ adhaar card from the soochna vaahan, handed it over to them, asked to get a bank account opened in her name and keep all the required documents ready. They did just as the sevaks directed.
The sevaks returned after 8 to 10 days, collected the documents and asked Narmardi Bai’s son to come with him. They went to the Secretary of the village, Vishnu Lodi and handed over the documents to him and told about the purpose of their visit.
Some days later Narmardi Bai went to panchayat bhawan and enquired the panchayat secretary about the status of her application for pension. He assured the lady that her work will get done shortly.
The Soochna Sevak Mukesh Yadav returned after few days and asked if she has started receiving pension? On knowing that it has not started yet, the Sevak communicated with the secretary again.
After few days the secretary called Narmardi Bai’s son and handed over the relevant documents to him and informed that his mother’s pension has been activated. The Soochna Seva team now directed Narmardi Bai to go to the local bank to receive her first amount of pension. She happily went to the bank where the bank staff withdrew the cash from her account and handed over Rs.150 to her!
Today Narmardi Bai is extremely grateful to the Soochna Seva team who introduced her family to a world of benefits. She even resolved to inform other women of the village who are entitled to such benefits but are ignorant of this fact.
“Soochna Seva gives us information and this gets our work done on time”- Narmardi Bai
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