Collector asks officials to restore widow pensions

Kakinada: East Godavari District Collector Neetu Prasad on Monday directed officials to take measures for restoring the widow pensions.

Speaking during the ‘Praja Vani’ programme in the Collectorate here, she asked the District Rural Development Authority (DRDA) officials to immediately restore the widow pensions, which were stopped due to technical reasons.

She received about 350 public complaints. The Collector endorsed them and forwarded to officials for necessary action.

Responding to the petition of woman who sought aid for performing her son’s heart surgery, she directed the Aarogyasri coordinator to take steps for the operation.

The Collector asked officials to dispose off the petitions on priority. She said 65 years was mandatory for the old-age pensions. Eligible persons whose age details were wrong in the ration cards and Aadhaar could obtain age certificate from Kakinada, Rajahmundry, Tuni, Prathipadu, Ramachandrapuram, Amalapuram, Rajolu and Kothapeta government hospitals for claiming the pension. Age certificates issued by the civil assistant surgeons of the hospitals would only be considered for the old-age pensions.

Expedite staff recruitment in merged mandals.

Neethu Prasad directed officials to expedite the staff recruitment process in the merged mandals. She advised them to ensure payment of cosmetic charges to students of government hostels in the district.

The Collector told the RVM Officials to start construction of a high school and a junior college in Kunavaram. She instructed officials to extend the date for submitting applications for scholarships. She directed the DRO to fill the 16 village secretary and junior/senior assistant posts.

Joint Collector Mutyala Raju, Additional JC Markandeyulu, DRO B Yadagiri and other officials were present.