Policeman's widow gets family pension after 27 years

New Delhi, Oct 24 (IANS) It was a 27-year wait for a policeman's widow, Ratni Devi of Uttarakhand, to get family pension, an official said.

Devi's husband, Bacchulal, was working with the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) in Uttar Pradesh and retired from service in 1955. After his death in 1981, the family pension was not started.

Devi turned to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) for help.

'After repeated efforts which turned unsuccessful each time, Devi wrote to the commission. The commission issued summons to the accountant general of the Uttar Pradesh government to either appear before the commission Sep 29, 2008 or send a report by Sep 16 on the issue,' an NHRC official told IANS.

'Following that a report was sent, saying that the held pension was sent to the accountant general of Uttarakhand to be forwarded to the Ranikhet treasury. The pension has been given to Devi,' the official added.