Suvendu slams Centre for stopping funds to provide pension to the elderly

Kolkata: Suvendu Adhikari, the state Transport minister and chairman of Haldia Development Authority (HDA), on Monday attacked the Centre for its decision to stop providing pension to elderly people. He was speaking at a programme of HDA at Rajnagar in East Midnapore. He inaugurated 24 projects including construction of roads in Tamluk, Moyna, Kolaghat, Sutahata, Nandigram I and II blocks.

After inaugurating the projects, Adhikari said that the Centre has stopped allocating the necessary funds to give pension to elderly people and widows.

This comes at a time, when the total number of people who are supposed to get the pension in the state is 2.5 lakh. In East Midnapore, the number is around 7,500.

Adhikari had brought the matter to the notice of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Immediate steps were taken by the state government in this connection and a fund of Rs 258 crore has been allotted from the state's exchequer, so that the people do not suffer due to the sudden decision of the Centre. The state government is continuing to give the pension to them.

He also took a dig at the Centre as they had changed the names of many projects for political mileage.

It may be mentioned that HDA has taken up several development projects under the leadership of Adhikari. In connection with the development work, he said that no stones will remain unturned to ensure overall development of the area.