The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Pension at doorstep for the aged

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Friday, Jun 15, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Pension at doorstep for the aged

Karthik Madhavan

Erode Cooperative Urban Bank’s gesture

Memorable moment: Joint Registrar of Cooperatives, Erode, A. M. Jamsheed Basha, hands over pension to Maniammal at her residence.

ERODE: For very many years Maniammal, 87, and her friend Shanmugadevi, 83, had to undergo a monthly ordeal, that of walking to the bank to receive pension.

The women, both retired teachers, maintain their accounts with Erode Cooperative Urban Bank on Periyar Street, which, though nearer their homes, was a difficult walk.

“Since my retirement from Government Elementary School, Kutchery Street, I walked to the bank for the pension. And, as years passed by it became extremely difficult, and once I fell and hurt myself,” recalls

Maniammal, who now moves within her home. While worrying about getting her pension, she had a pleasant surprise in May last. Officers from the bank knocked on her doors to give her and Shanmugadevi the pension.

“It was an extremely joyous occasion, something beyond the description of words. No amount of money on earth can equal it,” says Maniammal, beaming. Shanmugadevi only acknowledges it.

Under the system, the brainchild of Joint Registrar of Cooperatives A. M. Jamsheed Basha, the officers of the bank henceforth will deliver pension at doorsteps to 16 of the 62 pensioners. “To make banking at Erode Cooperative Urban Bank a memorable occasion and have a lasting relationship with our customers, we decided to reach out to the elderly pensioners,” Mr. Basha said.

As per the arrangement, the bank’s general manager, the section officer and the cashier will reach the homes of the 16 elderly pensioners, help them fill the withdrawal slip and pay money on the spot.

General Manager in-charge E.C.K. Sivakumar said it was the first time in the bank’s nearly century-old history that such a gesture was shown towards pensioners. The bank was started on June 10, 1911.

He said after a few months’ trial, the scheme would be extended to all cooperative banks in the district, helping many more Maniammals and Shanmugadevis.

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