Elderly Woman's 2km Crawl Incident

In a heart-wrenching incident, 77-year-old Girijamma crawled 2km to inquire about her abruptly halted pension in Kunibelekere village, Karnataka. Girijamma, who is childless and heavily reliant on her pension, endured this distressing journey to the local post office, where her pension was dispensed.

Pension Disruption Raises Concerns

Girijamma, a resident of Harihar taluk in Davanagere district, had been receiving a monthly pension of Rs 10,000 through the post office. However, for the past two months, her pension inexplicably ceased. Left without funds for transportation, Girijamma resorted to crawling the arduous distance to seek answers.

Allegations of Unannounced Cessation

Expressing her ordeal to the media, Girijamma revealed that she had not received her pension since November 2023. Faced with financial constraints and unable to afford transportation, she resorted to the extreme step of crawling on the road. The video of her distressing journey went viral on social media, triggering a public outcry.

Physical Toll and Unanswered Queries

The drastic measure took a toll on Girijamma’s health, causing blisters on her feet. Despite her courageous act, it remains uncertain whether the officials addressed her queries or took any action to reinstate her pension.

A Pattern of Distress: A Similar Case in Odisha

This distressing incident echoes a similar case from eight months ago in Odisha, where 70-year-old Surya Harijan walked barefoot for several kilometers, using a broken chair as support, to claim her pension in Nabarangpur district. The government’s shift from cash payments to direct bank transfers aimed at curbing corruption failed to spare the elderly from such ordeals.

Addressing Pension Distribution Challenges

The incidents highlight the challenges faced by elderly individuals in accessing their pensions, often resulting in extreme measures due to abrupt cessations. Authorities must address and rectify these issues promptly to ensure the well-being of vulnerable pensioners.

Thus, the distressing incident of Girijamma’s 2km crawl underscores the urgent need for improved pension distribution systems and increased sensitivity towards the elderly population’s financial challenges.

Re-reported from the article originally published in The shethepeople