Wives of the policemen killed in anti-Veerappan operations have accused the government of denying them benefits, including jobs to family members on compassionate grounds.
At a press conference here on Friday, they said even the pension sanctioned to them had not been revised. With the prices of essential commodities skyrocketing, it had become difficult for them to live and hence the government should revise their pension, they demanded.
Dakshayani, N. Lakshmi, Mangalamma and Nagaveni, wives of the policemen killed in action in the early 90s, took exception to the government “backtracking” on the promises made to them. A majority of them were eking out a hand-to-mouth existence and were residing with their parents as the pension was grossly inadequate to make both ends meet, they said.
“What is intriguing is that the crores of rupees announced as package for the benefit of STF personnel who took part in the anti-Veerappan operation have been allocated to the survivors while the dependents of the policemen killed in action have been denied their due. But for a shawl presented to us at a function at Kalamandira, we have not received anything significant,” Ms. Dakshayani said.
“We appeal to the government to provide jobs to our children immediately and resolve our economic woes.”
They also wanted the government to include them under the Arogya Bhagya scheme. Even the site given to the surviving family members were allocated only after claiming 25 per cent of the land value.
