Date:17/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/17/stories/2008121754950300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Tirupattur MLA stages dharna

Staff Reporter

Condemns delay in extending aid to a person under old age assistance scheme

TIRUPATTUR: Tirupattur MLA T.K. Raja staged a dharna inside the taluk office here on Tuesday condemning the delay in extending assistance to an old man under the Indira Gandhi Old Age Assistance Scheme.

According to sources, Vadivel (78) of Theeminamarathur near Tirupattur requested Mr. Raja to recommend his name for getting the benefit. But, he was made “to run from pillar to post” for over six months to learn about the status of his application.

On Tuesday, he approached Mr. Raja and informed him about the delay, who took him to the taluk office to learn about the status of the application. When Mr. Raja “failed to get proper reply,” he staged a protest for about 30 minutes.

Officials later said that the taluk office, on Monday, received sanction for 3,153 beneficiaries to be included under the scheme.

Mr. Vadivel’s name had also been included in the list of beneficiaries.