The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Pension scheme a great draw

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Wednesday, Nov 19, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Pension scheme a great draw

Staff Reporter

–Photo: MOHD ARIF

Ray of hope: Physically-challenged persons queuing up for medical certificates at the hospital in Sangareddy on Tuesday.

SANGAREDDY: Lakshmamma and Rajavva are in their eighties. Like thousand such others, they too came to the government hospital at Sangareddy on Tuesday to get physically-handicapped certificates from the government doctor.

Their hope is that once they get this certificate, they would be able to get the pension meant for physically handicapped which is being considered as ‘handsome amount.’ While the government has been offering Rs. 200 to old age persons as pension per month, Rs. 500 is being offered in the case of physically- handicapped.

This raised hopes among both the aged as well as the handicapped since once the certificate was issued by the empanelled doctors, they will become eligible for a higher pension amount.

Every first and third Tuesdays, long queues at the hospital of more than 3,000 persons, some physically handicapped too have become the order of the day. “Only 20 per cent of those who came here are genuinely eligible,” said a doctor on condition of anonymity.

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Andhra Pradesh