Madikeri: As many as 6,454 persons under various categories are drawing pension through the district treasury in Kodagu. Approximately, Rs. 2.4 crore is being disbursed every month as pension, according to in-charge district treasury officer M.K. Thimmaiah here on Wednesday.

Of this, a majority of 4,070 are retired State Government employees, followed by 1,556 persons drawing family pensions. Under the urban local bodies, 162 are getting pension while 103 are drawing pension in the family pension category. There are 188 pensioners in the retired armed forces category. A majority of the retired defence personnel and officers, however, draw pensions through various banks.

There are 312 persons from the district drawing pension for taking part in World War II, Mr. Thimmaiah has said. The number of freedom fighters drawing pension is 36. As many as six former members of the Legislative Assembly and one from the Legislative Council too get pension. Among those hailing from the neighbouring States drawing pension are five from Tamil Nadu, three from Madhya Pradesh, two each from Maharashtra and Orissa and one from Kerala.

In the other categories, there are five artistes, one sportsperson and one journalist.

Apart from these, there are 3,045 persons drawing pension in the old age category, 6,853 widows and 2,639 physically handicapped persons, Mr. Thimmaiah has said. Each person under these categories received Rs. 200 a month.

Mahatma Gandhi's ash

What makes the Kodagu District Treasury significant in the State is that it contains Mahatma Gandhi's ash. Ash contained in an urn is kept safely in the strong room of the treasury here. It is taken out in the presence of Deputy Commissioner, Superintendent of Police and other top officials of the district on Martyr's Day on January 30 every year and carried in a procession to the Gandhi statue at the Gandhi Maidan here. After the day's proceedings, the urn is taken back and kept safely in the treasury.

The Network Management Centre (NMC) in Bangalore has made the functioning of treasury easy. It is linked to all district treasuries, which feeds information pertaining to various bills on a day-to-day basis. The NMC, in turn, gives feedback to the Government on revenue receipts, unlike in the past.

There is no scope for irregularities as the Director, Department of Treasuries, keeps track of each bill along with details such as date, amount and others.

The computerised system also helps do away with delays in clearing the bills, according to Mr. Thimmaiah.

Shortage of staff has, to some extent, hindered the functioning of the district treasury. As against the sanctioned posts of 31, there are 21 working as of now. The post of the district treasury officer is vacant and so are two posts of the superintendents.

The posts of superintendents were shifted to Bidar and Chamarajanagar from Kodagu on the grounds that they were redundant. Of the four posts of class IV employees, three are vacant.

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