It took just few hours to wipe signs of desperation, tears and anger from the face of widow-teacher Saroj, who had been struggling to get her pension papers ready for last 6 months. Her travails ended at the doors of Alwar collector Artika Shukla, who intervened and ensure that her pension papers, who were not being prepared for last 6 months, get ready in few hours. That too on a Christmas holiday.
Saroj, who had worked with Alwar district council for 34 years, has been forced to run from pillar to post for pension. She got retired in June 2024 and since then she has been chasing district council officers for pension. She was made to ping pong between district council office and district education office in want of complete service record.
When the matter reached district collector Artika Shukla, officers of district council swung in action and the service record got completed in few hours.
“I am deeply thankful to Alwar collector Artika Shukla. She is a great officer. She has set an example as to how an officer can bring change in life of an ordinary person,” said elated Saroj.
Artika Shukla, a 2016 batch IAS officer, is considered as a dynamic and result oriented officer. She had earlier served as collector of newly created districts – Khairthal-Tijara and Dudu.
What was the case?
Saroj was selected as a teacher in September 1990 under widow category. From the first day of her service – September 13, 1990 – she was attached with Mada Ashram Hostel Rajgarh on deputation. She had served there till February 1, 2024 and then was sent to parent department of elementary education from where she got retired in June 2024. In total she had served in only two offices across her service tenure.
A mother of three, Saroj struggled to raise her kids single handedly and even now at the fag end of her life is still struggling to get her rightful pension – the only source of income through which she can fend her living.
The elementary education department had sent several reminders to Alwar District Council to send complete service record of Saroj so that pension can be processed. But all have fallen on the deaf ears of administration.
Prakash Bhandari is a veteran journalist with over 50 years of experience. He has worked with The Times of India for 30 years and contributed to leading publications as well as international news agency AFP.
