The senior citizens and their relatives had visited the VDC office seeking second installment of the social security allowances but were verbally abused by the VDC staffs, said Bipendra Prasad Rohita of ward 8 of the VDC. [break]
“The senior citizens have been waiting for the allowance for the last six months. The VDC staff misbehaved with us when we went to complain about the delay,” Rohit said.
Twenty-two elderly people of ward 6 and 7 are yet to receive the second installment of the senior citizens allowance pending since last year. As per the schedule, the second installment of social security allowance must be paid before the month of March every year.
The locals have accused VDC secretary Tahir Miya and technical assistant Wakil Miya of misappropriating the budget meant for the social security allowance.
Wakil Miya, the VDC technical assistant, meanwhile blamed VDC secretary Tahir of engaging in financial irregularity and delaying the distribution of the allowance. Wakil further said that due to the dillydallying nature of the secretary even the salary of the VDC staff have not been paid since the past few months.
The VDC secretary, on the other hand, said that the second installment of the allowance was distributed three month ago. “I had directed Wakil to clear the pending allowances as the budget for the allowance was transferred to Wakil´s account,” he informed.
District Administration Office has charged more than 50 VDC secretaries in Saptari with embezzling social security allowances meant for senior citizens, disabled, and widows.
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