SWD’s Sugam portal mostly non-functional
Vikas Sharma
JAMMU, Sept 16: Though the Social Welfare Department (SWD) which always boasted of helping the poor pensioners, widows and others, is organising various camps to redress the genuine grievances of needy people but on the ground level all these things are proving to be a futile exercise. Despite running from pillar to post and table to table for a long time, many poor pensioners are unable to fulfil the formalities for restoring their pensions.
Pertinent to mention here that due to problems in Social Welfare Department (SWD), a significant number of vulnerable individuals, including elderly persons, widows and divorcees, women in distress, transgender people, and persons with disabilities, are struggling for survival as the Department has failed to release their meagre monthly pension since February this year.
In September last year, the Government introduced new rules that required all beneficiaries to reapply on the SUGAM portal to continue receiving the benefits of the scheme. It forced already distressed individuals to navigate the bureaucracy and gather various documents such as domicile certificates, age certificates, Aadhaar, and disability certificates.
Sometimes SWD department cited the slow verification process by the SUGAM Portal, which remain non-functional most of the times and people have to wait to get themselves re-register at their portal.
Moreover, the camps organised by the department at various places in Jammu to redress the grievances of people are also proving to be a futile exercise.
“We are visiting Parade Camp, from last three days and running from table to table to fulfil the formalities announced by the department to restore our pensionary benefits. But now, when we have fulfilled all the formalities there is non-availability of the authorised officers to sign our final documents,” said Surinder Kour, a pensioner aspirant from New Plot area.
“While showing a format to Excelsior, she said that to get the final submission of documents, I need signatures of Councillor of the area, TSO, TSWO and finally a signature of Tehsildar. All these designated officers mentioned in this format are unavailable today. Once again I have to visit at this camp to get their signatures needed for the submission of my documents,” she asserted.
People also expressed dismay over the SWD’s directive which forced these people in distress to rush from one office to another to get requisite documents such as Domicile Certificate, Age Certificate, Aadhaar, Income certificate and BPL ration card to register them on the SUGAM portal to avail the pension.
Subodh Bhasin, heading a NGO told the Excelsior that beneficiaries, even those who have applied fresh on SUGAM portal, are without pension. “The present J&K administration is leaving no effort to harass the handicapped people,” he added.
He castigated the J&K administration for the “plight of poor people”, saying, “In J&K, the rights of poor people are being taken away and there is no one to listen to their concern.”
Over the issue of non-availability of the designated officers at the Parade camp, TSWO, Manjit Singh said, “At SWD we are here to serve the people and trying our best to address their genuine problems they are facing by fulfilling the formalities of their documents they needed to restore their pensions.”
“Due to the work load, we have to show our presence at every camp installed by the department in various parts of Jammu. We can’t sit at a single camp for whole of the day,” he maintained.
“If there is any person, who wanted to get his signature on the prescribed format issued by the department, he can visit at this office at Amphalla on Monday,” he advised.
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