Hebe Benjamin, a 94-year-old widow of Late Col George Benjamin of Army Engineers, fighting from past 30 years for pension, finally got her plea reached to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Benjamin, who wrote many letters to the MoD (Ministry of Defence) for the same, got no response to her complaint earlier.
Benjamin who has no source of income, is now expected to receive Rs 75 lakh after 29 years. If interest and arrears are paid then the figure could even cross Rs 1 crore. The restored family pension is expected to be transferred to Benjamin’s account by January 31
According to the reports, Benjamin wrote to Prime Minister Modi when no official of the MoD responded positively to her repeated prayers for restoration of family pension for over 29 years. The authorities were allegedly not willing to clear the files especially with Benjamin now living in Israel. But Benjamin was fighting a battle legally and no reason was given for denying her family pension.
As a last resort, she wrote to PM Modi, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Gen Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Army Staff (COAS). She requested their personal intervention to ensure her plea be a fast track and family pension be restored with arrears and interest.
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