Ruckus over survey of pensioners in Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram: The city corporation council meeting on Tuesday was ended abruptly, as BJP and UDF joined forces in opposing a survey to identify the number of beneficiaries of social welfare pensions who wanted the amount to be directly delivered at home by Kudumbashree. The mayor walked out announcing that the agendas for the day were passed, even though only five agendas were presented. Moreover the opposition with 54 councillors formed a majority.

Akkulam councillor V. R. Sini called attention to the fact that councillors were not informed by Kudumbashree or the corporation about the survey being carried out. Other opposition councillors backed the change in agenda she presented. The mayor said that the Direct Benefit Transfer method was not very successful and the survey was needed to aid the government’s efforts to reach the pensions home. He added that the survey needed to be speeded up so that beneficiaries get their pension before Onam.

Later speaking to DC, Ms Sini said the mayor walked out as LDF did not want to face questions on the violation of norms in public works department. The mayor, when asked about this said that the protests in the Council were only because the opposition never wanted the Left government’s decision to be carried out in Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, which has the largest number of beneficiaries in the state. When asked about the agendas which he declared as passed without discussion, he said that if the majority wants a discussion, that will be arranged.