Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 12 Jul: Dehradun district administration’s sensitivity and prompt action have brought new hope into the life of a specially-abled resident. Sunil Chandra of Upper Natthanpur, who had long been deprived of benefits under government schemes, has now received a disability certificate, a monthly pension, a bank account and a free wheelchair. All this has been ensured by the district administration following his appeal made during a recent Samadhan Diwas.
It may be recalled that, struggling on his wheelchair, Sunil Chandra had managed to reach the Samadhan Diwas on 29 June and narrated his plight to District Magistrate (DM) Dr Ashish Chauhan, sharing that he was poor, physically incapacitated and had never been issued a disability certificate nor did he ever receive any government assistance. Taking his grievance seriously, the DM directed the Additional Chief Medical Officer to immediately take Chandra to Coronation Hospital for medical examination and ensure the disability certificate was issued the same day without any delay. The Social Welfare Officer was also instructed by the DM to coordinate with the tehsil administration to prepare his income certificate and process the pension file.
Acting swiftly on these instructions, Sunil Chandra was certified with 45 per cent disability after medical examination. His income certificate was prepared through the Tehsildar Sadar and departmental formalities were completed, leading to sanction of his disability pension with effect from August. During the process it was discovered that Sunil had no bank account, which would have prevented pension disbursement. The administration then contacted officials of India Post Payments Bank, who personally visited his home and opened an account at his doorstep.
Besides this, the Social Welfare Department further ensured that Sunil was also provided with a free wheelchair along with sanction of his pension. Witnessing this responsive and humane face of the administration, Sunil Chandra has expressed heartfelt gratitude to DM Ashish Chauhan and his team, saying he now truly feels that the government stands at the door of the poor.
