Promise to hike old-age pension brings smile on the faces of elderly in Rohtak

In the Assembly elections, the promise of a hike in old-age pension has emerged as an interesting issue and it may have a potential effect on the poll results. The issue is not only being discussed a lot, the elderly are also hoping if hiked their small needs would be fulfilled. However, they are apprehensive that this issue should not become secondary like other ones post-poll.

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At present, senior citizens in the state are getting Rs 3,000 as old-age pension per month, but the Congress in its manifesto has promised that the pension would be hiked to Rs 6,000 per month on coming to power.

‘Will include juice & fruit in my diet’

Many times I feel like eating fruits and drinking juices but hesitate to ask for money from my son. If the pension is doubled, I will also be able to include fruits and juice in my diet to keep myself in the pink of health. — Surender Kumar, Narnaul

‘Hope it doesn’t just remain poll promise’

We are enthused by the Congress’s promise of hiking pension up to ~6,000 per month as it has given a hope to senior citizens to live a better life but it should not turn out to be merely a poll promise as in previous polls, the JJP too announced that it would give ~5,100 but failed to fulfil it even after being in power. — Satish, Rewari city

Mahendra Singh (75) while smoking hookah with other elderly co-villagers in Dadanpur village (Jhajjar), says Rs 3,000 as pension is nominal in view of inflation, but the announcement for the hike up to Rs 6,000 has undoubtedly brought happiness among the pensioners, but at the same time, they are apprehensive about whether this promise will materialise or not. Though in the same breath, he reassures himself stating that Hooda is stated to be the man of words.

Jai Singh (74), another elderly, sitting on a charpai next to Mahendra, could not stop himself from speaking that every party called senior citizens as a guiding force of the society but remained non-committal towards their welfare.

“Doubling the pension is the need of the hour to empower the elderly financially, who have to depend on their children on not having any source of income. If the parties describe us as a guiding force then they should provide appropriate financial aid to every elderly person without any condition,” he suggested.

Surender Kumar of Narnaul said he used to spend most of his pension amount on the hospitality of relatives and others who come to his house.

“Many times I feel like eating fruits and drinking juices but hesitate to ask for money from my son. If the pension is doubled, I will also be able to include fruits and juice in my diet to keep myself in the pink of health,” he added.

Not only in rural areas, but the poll promise of a hike in the pension is also being discussed in urban areas.

“We are enthused by the Congress’s promise of hiking pension up to Rs 6,000 per month as it has given a hope to senior citizens to live a better life but it should not turn out to be a merely a poll promise as in previous polls the JJP too announced that it would give Rs 5,100 but it failed to fulfil it even after being in power,” said Satish of Rewari city.