Widows not getting benefits of pension scheme
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Gyanand Naorem

Chandel, November 16 2015: When Moningsan of Kangsang village under Chandel District passed away around 14 years back leaving his wife Tontanga Tungpher (44), the bereaved family was not immediately worried about how Tontanga and her one and half year old daughter could survive.

Moningsan was the sole bread earner of the family.

After leading a harsh life for over a decade, Tontanga is now aware of Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS).

However, she has not been able to get the benefits of the pension scheme despite approaching the government.

She is not alone.

There are many more widows who are yet to avail the benefits of the IGNWPS.

Tungpher has now urged the Government to fully implement IGNWPS through the Social Welfare Department of Manipur Government under the scheme meant for widows Below the Poverty Line (BPL) who are above 40 years of age.

Widows not getting benefits of pension scheme

Recalling her past life, Tontanga Tungpher said that she was born to late M Tomba and Tedar of Maipou village under Chandel District as fifth daughter.

She got married to Monigsan at the age of 26.Seasonal cultivation was their only means of livelihood like most of the villagers in their area.

When the couple's only daughter, Teruishim was about one and half years old, her husband and another relative visited Moreh to procure a cow in July 2001.When he returned, Moningsan was afflicted with an unknown disease.

He was asked to visit a good hospital in Imphal.

Tontanga left no stone unturned in search of money for her husband's treatment but her efforts failed to rescue Moningsan.

Over a decade now, Tungpher, who is also a heart patient, works hard to support her daughter.

She started weaving for neighbours, worked in paddy fields and collected sands from Sekmai river.

In 2014, Tontanga finally got a small three-days-a-week job at Life Care Centre, Tungsami village under Chandel District.

The Centre started paying her daughter's monthly school fee and she was paid Rs 1000 per month.

The Centre which makes bamboo and cane products, juice, washing powder, body soaps, handloom products and many others is also employing a number of widows.

Tontanga's daughter is now studying in a private high school without procuring any help from the State Government.

Tontanga said she had submitted her certificate and photographs three or four times to the State IGNWPS authority.

However, till date she has neither received a single rupee from the Government nor got any benefit from such schemes.

The conditions of the widows in conflict ridden Manipur continues to be deplorable.

Due to the apathy of the Government, many widows are unable to claim any benefits even under the PDS and widow schemes.

It has also been reported that many of these widows in the State have no BPL cards.

The State Government is supposed to provide compensation to some widows ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 under the Widow Pension Scheme, a one-time benefit after their husband's death.

However, many widows did not get the complete amount while many others still remain ignorant about any scheme for the hapless widows.