IMPHAL, April 16: Social Welfare minister Ak Mirabai and director Rangitabali Waikhom should be held responsible for the April 15 death of an old age pensioner at the 1st Manipur Rifles grounds while waiting in queue for her pension amount of Rs 4800, demanded the Janata Dal United today.
Addressing a press meet at the party`™s Babupara office, the party`™s State president M Tombi said such an unfortunate incident should not be repeated again.
The concerned Social Welfare department to come up with alternative means for distribution of the old age pension, he said while hinting that the pension amount could be distributed through postal services or by opening bank accounts for the beneficiaries.
Otherwise, the government could also involve the local MLAs in the distribution of the pension scheme, he said adding that his party will also provide the same pension amount to the aggrieved family at the earliest.
It may be mentioned that in an unfortunate incident yesterday, 75-year-old Irengbam Purnimashi Devi of Khagempalli Pankha Ningom Leikai vomited blood while waiting for her pension at the 1st MR ground and was rushed to RIMS where the doctors declared her brought death.
JD (U) general secretary Len Gangte charged the Social Welfare minister of being insensitive to the issue and at the same time incompetent in delivering her duties.
The minister, he said is unable to chalk out a proper system for the pension scheme.
He said she should be fully held responsible for the death of the pensioner and the Chief Minister should take stern action against her for her incompetency.
He also charged director Rangitabli of being negligent and that the pensioners had already complaint of various inconveniences they had to face on the first day of pension distribution.
The minister and the director could have distributed the pension through bank accounts of the beneficiaries or engage the local clubs for the distribution, he said.
