ES Reporter 

ITANAGAR, Sep 30: The All Arunachal Pradesh Divyangjan Beneficiaries Committee (AAPDBC) said that if the state government fails to address their demands related to differently-abled pensions and other schemes, the committee will launch a ‘hunger strike’.  
Following the failure to address the demands of the committee for almost 9 months, the AAPDBC organized a dharna at the IG Park here on Friday, as a mark of protest.
Speaking to reporters, AAPDBC issue Chairman, Nido Teji said that the committee submitted a memorandum on the issue to Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Minister of Social Justice Empowerment & Tribal Affairs (SJETA) Alo Libang, and the officials of the SJETA. However, till today there has been no response by the state government and the department on the grievances placed before them.
He said that the CM, the SJETA minister, and the Director of SJETA have failed to address the matter. Therefore, with no option left, the committee decided to hold a protest today in the form of dharna.
“If the state government fails to look into the matter concerning us and many more beneficiaries of the scheme, we will be left with no option but to opt for hunger strike. The mistake has been made by the department and it should be addressed as soon as possible,” he added.
Teji also informed that neither the CM, the concerned minister nor the head of the department was willing to meet the committee.  
The Divyangjans are entitled to the Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme, Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme, Indira Gandhi National Family Benefits Scheme, and Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme.
“However, the Department of Social Justice Empowerment & Tribal Affairs (SJETA) has not disbursed the pension amounts properly and systematically for the past five years. Also, the department has failed to furnish the utilization certificate (UC) and the list of beneficiaries from the years 2018 to 2022. Due to this, the central department did not allocate funds for all the schemes,” he said.
On Thursday, CM Pema Khandu while responding to the concern of the AAPDBC said that representation submitted by the committee has been cleared from the CMO. Further, the CS will ensure that the matter is addressed as soon as possible.
Also, earlier SJETA Minister, Alo Libang said that the state government has been delivering their part of the benefits to the beneficiaries but the delay is from the central government due to technical issues prevailing in many districts of the state.
On the UC, Libang said that he has directed the officers of the SJETA department to look into the matter.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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