Dimapur, March 16 (EMN): The Nagaland Pensioners’ Association (NPA) on Friday assured to investigate allegations that the Dimapur District Pensioners’ Association (DDPA) was charging INR 2000 from pensioners seeking to avail benefits via government schemes.
Local newspaper The Morung Express exposed the racket in its Friday edition. In response the NPA issued a statement declaring said illegal levy. The association stated that the collection of money was ‘defaming and lowering the dignity’ of the NPA.
It informed that the Nagaland government had on March 1 2006 authorised the NPA to issue identity card / card-D to all ‘Nagaland state government pensioners / family pensioners’ after charging INR 20 each and INR 10 annually but for renewal.
However due to escalating cost of stationery items, it stated, the NPA had authorised the district / sub-unit offices to charge INR 150 for both purposes and submit INR 20 per member to the NPA annually for ‘office maintenance.’ Another INR 200 per member is charged as one-time levy for what was claimed to be ‘building fund,’ it added.
Besides the specified collections, the NPA clarified it had never authorised any district or sub-unit office to enforce extra collection from pensioners. It asserted that the authority that can revise pension or any other pension benefit rests only with the government.
