NDMC to pay 3 months of dues to 80,000 of its pensioners

It has not paid various welfare pensions, including old age pension of Rs 1200 per month, from July 2014

The North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) today announced that it will pay old age pension due between July-September, 2014 to around 80,000 of its pensioners by December 10.

The civic body has not paid various welfare pensions, including old age pension of Rs 1200 per month, from July 2014 to its pensioners.

During the NDMC House's meeting, Mayor Ravinder Gupta and Commissioner P K Gupta announced that the civic body will pay July-September, 2014 pensions by December 10 this year, amid protests by Opposition councillors who walked out of the meeting saying that they will not participate in the meeting till cheques are obtained by the beneficiaries.

The Mayor further said the data of all pensioners, including their pending pensions, will be handed over to the Delhi government which will look into the issue for "clearing" pension dues.

Congress councillors, led by Leader of Opposition Mukesh Goel, accused the Mayor and the Commissioner of "failing" to provide pensions to the affected beneficiaries despite promising so "thrice" in the past. They also protested when condolences were being paid to late VHP leader Ashok Singhal at the start of the meeting.

The two other municipal corporations -- SDMC and EDMC -- have also accumulated large pension dues in past many months due to their financial problems.

South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) had paid three months of old age pensions to around 73,000 of its pensioners before Diwali.

"We have cleared pension dues upto December 2014 by paying old age pensions to the beneficiaries before Diwali," said Radhe Shyam Sharma, Chairman of Standing Committee of the muncipal corporation.

The situation in East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) is "worse" where no old age pension has been paid to over 40,000 beneficiaries for the past two years.

"We have not been able to paid any old age pension for the past 28 months," said Lata Gupta, standing sommittee chairperson, citing financial crisis faced by the civic body.