Kolkata, 01 September (H.S.): A 68-year-old woman, who has been struggling financially due to not receiving an old-age pension, stopped West Bengal Chief Minister Shubhendu Adhikari’s convoy on Tuesday and appealed for help. After the Chief Minister assured her of assistance, the emotional woman placed her hand on his head and blessed him.

Adhikari directed the BJP’s district president to send all documents related to the woman’s old-age pension to his office.

The incident took place on Tuesday morning when the Chief Minister’s convoy reached Jessore Road after the conclusion of a programme. Among a crowd of BJP Mahila Morcha workers stood 68-year-old Sapna Das.

Das lives in a one-room rented house in the Shrinagar area of Madhyamgram. As the convoy was about to move ahead, she came out of the crowd and approached it, repeatedly calling out, “Baba, please stop.”

Hearing her voice, the Chief Minister stopped his vehicle. As the car window was lowered, Das approached him. Addressing her as “Ma”, Adhikari asked what she wanted to tell him.

Das said she was not receiving money under the Annapurna scheme. The Chief Minister told her that she was not eligible for the Annapurna scheme, but assured her that arrangements would be made for her old-age pension.

Hearing the assurance, Das became emotional and placed her hand on the Chief Minister’s head to bless him. She said that whether or not she ultimately received the money, she was overwhelmed at having been able to meet the Chief Minister from such close quarters.

Adhikari then instructed Rajiv Poddar, BJP Barasat organisational district president who was present at the spot, to send all documents related to Das’s old-age pension to his office. Poddar agreed to comply with the instruction.

According to information available, Das lives near Shrinagar Haat in Ward No. 8 of Madhyamgram Municipality. Her husband reportedly left her around 12 years ago. Her only son, 31-year-old Shubhajit Das, has a master’s degree but has been unable to find employment. He is currently seriously ill and bedridden.

The mother and son survive with some financial assistance from a relative. Das had hoped that receiving an old-age pension would ease their financial difficulties. However, despite applying several times to the municipality, she did not receive the pension. She was reportedly told that it could take several more months for the pension to be sanctioned.

On Tuesday, after learning that Chief Minister Shubhendu Adhikari would be visiting Madhyamgram, Das went to the programme venue hoping to meet him and explain her difficulties. However, security personnel did not allow her to enter the venue as she did not have an invitation card.

Eventually, when the Chief Minister’s convoy was leaving, Das raised her hand and moved through the crowd, calling out, “Baba, please stop.” Her voice reached the Chief Minister, who stopped his vehicle, heard her grievance and assured her of assistance.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh