Head of PPP Media Cell
Retired government servants have to undergo unbearable agony at the Military Land and Cantonment Board, Lahore, and at the National Saving Centre, DHA, in the metropolis. The indifferent dealing of the (LCB) staff is a source of sufferings for the pensioners as they have to visit the office to get the exemption available under the Property Tax Law each year if he/she uses the property exclusively as family residential unit. They have to make several visits whereas this should be solved with a click of button by developing software for which no rocket science level of knowledge is required in this digital age.
At the National Saving Centre, DHA, Lahore, they have to stand in long queue to wait for their turn to get monthly profit on their savings. In the absence of mini screen displaying as what numbers are being served at the counter the elderly people have to join the long queue to ensure their turn. Their anguish multiplies because at this stage of age their bodies are prone to various vulnerabilities especially arthritis making waiting period even more torturous and simply beyond their endurance. This state of their helplessness demands the attention of the top government functionaries to address it if they care for them. Their tardiness will not be justified after the publication of this article and will be deemed as pusillanimous if not culpable negligence.
The other source of discomfort for them is the location, H Block, DHA, which is the most congested locality with inherent problems. On the top of it, it is contemptuously quite insufficient to accommodate a large number of pensioners/senior citizens who have to visit the Centre to get cash absolutely necessary for their living. It’s shifting to phase four or five (DHA) could solve the problems with fraction of cost. It is understood that the shifting of the office has been under the active consideration of the high ups for the last couple of years but the inordinate delay to implement the consideration taking its toll at the expense of pensioners/senior citizens. It also reflects poorly on the local management that seemed to have failed in convincing the top people of the necessity and urgency to shift the Centre to a better and spacious location.
At the LCB, the pensioners/senior citizens after receiving the notice of Property Tax each year their unmitigated fatigue starts as they have to visit the (LCB) to convince concerned authorities about his/her status with the re-submission of photo copies of pension book, exemption letter earlier issued and the Property Tax notice etc. The worst part of their helplessness starts afterwards.
After handing over the relevant documents, normally the concerned staff should acknowledge the receipt of the documents with thanks while conveying that matter stands resolve at least for the current year. The obstinacy of the staff along with their reluctance to oblige is extremely irritating. The comfort level of the elderly people will naturally remain teetering on the fence without any documentary proof of the presentation of required papers in the office. They remain on the tenterhooks because of the want of acknowledgment by (LCB) staff of the documents submitted.
Military Land Cantonment Board, Lahore, perfectly exemplifies the insolence of office where laws are delayed to put the elderly government servants in grotesque discomfort and inconvenience. Those lucky ones who have the facility of self-employed servant or privileged with such facility as fringe benefit can depute them to do the drudgery work on their behalf. But, those who are not fortunate enough and have to undergo the painful exercise of visiting the office time and again to get something in writing to pre-empt any future trouble. Each time they are verbally told that their problem has been taken care of to their advantage. This practice is a source of constant consternation because people of that age would not like to be dragged in trouble emanating from the potential non-compliance of the law for which they are not responsible.
Ironically, (LCB) staff that work on the maxim of ‘show me the man I will show the law’. Their discriminatory treatment is on purpose. Those who are less privileged are forced to oil the palm of the staff to get rid of the ordeal or opt for visiting the office quite off and on to face the fiercely pernicious and bald staff that would continue to be lackadaisical in their behaviour without compunction. Their disregard to the senior citizens by design is despicable warranting immediate action making them to mend their ways.
The petitioners prefer to avoid engaging in arguments in a bid to save themselves from the bigger trouble that may become inevitable if the staff get offended. Their option emanates from the apprehension that their wrath may embroiled them in multiple predicaments, both vertically and horizontally, if scrutiny of the case is initiated clearly putting the onus of proof on those who are at the receiving end. It is so easy for them to put them on the path that is immersed with countless procedural complexities. Their bite becomes hard when functionaries are on the hostile side of the fence.
There is method in madness because they have attained the mastery of making simple case complicated on purpose. The purpose is to force the petitioners to cough up something failing which they will have to undergo the endless labour in getting relief available under the law. But when this writer approached some officials, they totally denied the impression that staff used to get any illegal favour. They said all the people coming to their office are dealt with in accordance with rules.
But, according to various surveys conducted by the credible organisations public dealing organisations like police department, judiciary, customs, income tax and revenue departments stand out filled with packs of extortionists those operate without fear of any legal or disciplinary actions.
The irony is those who are honest by conviction have to pay the price in these departments in the form of either their posting as OSDs or pushed in those sections which are devoid of authority and known as sideline postings. Such honest functionaries with impeccable integrity are not tolerated considering them as trouble makers who stand between them and their getting pound of flesh.
It can be easily extrapolated that the working of the LCB needs immediate attention of those who have the authority to make the difference to the advantage of the people in general and of the pensioners in particular. The lower ranking officials cannot dare to operate freely if they do not enjoy the support within the office of those who wield the real power. Corruption is rampant and its tentacles are outstretched to fight back who dare to challenge them.
The seasoned and committed justice seekers are made horrible example so that others get the message loud and clear and desist from indulging in containing them from doing the sordid business of easy picking. It is common perception that Cantonment areas and service delivery entities are subject to the vigil of the powerful agencies. It is proposed to get the fair idea of the working of the Cantonment Board a sting operation should be conducted. They will have the fair idea of the scale of the suffering the people have to undergo because of the indifferent attitude of the functionaries who refuse to move the case without obliging them for their service. This shameful and condemnable activity under the nose should not be tolerated. Instead of a role model of governance, it is no different than other public dealing organisations.
Referring to the plight of the pensioners and the senior citizens, some proposals are put forward for consideration of the high ups of the (LCB). The prompt action favouring the elderly people will clearly manifest the commitment to hold the senior citizens in the highest esteem which is the essential trait of the civilized societies.
1: It is proposed that a separate window should be allocated to serve this category people for a period of one month during which the owners of the self-occupied houses could show up to settle the issue in a single trip. 2: Or, the Cantonment Board should develop a software to get instant information about the pensioners credentials from their pension bank accounts. 3: The doubtful cases may be dealt with according to the law. Such cases should not only be pursued variously but also be seen to be pursued so to discourage others not to engage in forgery etc. 4: The system of submission of the photo copies of the pension books each year should be stopped forthwith. 5: Those who are seeking the exemption for the first time should present their pension book and other relevant documents.
Civilised societies take good care of the senior citizens and pensioners and the state role in this regard is becoming increasingly popular under the narrative of welfare state as motherly figurehead. The state and the civil society owe to the elderly people to look after them so that they could live with honour, dignity and security during their evening years. It is the prime social responsibility of the new generations to create an enabling environment for the elderly people to expect the reciprocity when they will be over the hill of their age.
muhammadshaheediyahoo.com