86-Yr-Old Fights For Medical Claims

86-Yr-Old Fights For Medical Claims Dated:18 Feb 2009, 2217 hrs IST, Source: Nidhi Singhi, TNN LUDHIANA: Text: Out of sight is out of mind. Though railway authorities claim of providing better facilities to passengers as well as its staff, it seems once the employees retire from service, the department stops paying attention to their needs. For instance, Madan Mohan Lal Sobti, 86, who retired as chief controller from Northern Railways has been fighting a long lonesome battle to get what is rightfully his. A pensioner, he is struggling to get his claim of medical reimbursement from authorities. According to information, Sobti had to undergo a heart surgery at Apollo Hospital, Delhi, for which he had to pay around Rs 1,91,000. The hospital has been recognized by the Railway Board in 1998. Although Sobti had applied for medical reimbursement on January 15, 2000, he is still awaiting payment for the surgery. Railway employees said it normally took around 45 days for the clearance of payment, but authorities were simply violating rules, adding to the woes of railway pensioners. Sobti told TOI authorities were creating problems for pensioners. “I had applied for medical claim in 2000, but the chief medical supervisor had then demanded 10% commission for the claim. There are many like me who are suffering due to the department;s apathy”, he added. He alleged when he refused to pay the commission, the supervisor misplaced the file. A distraught Sobti said, “For two years, my file could not proceed and after appealing at various higher levels, I received Rs 99,000 on January 27, 2003.” He said the authorities never explained why the remaining amount of Rs 91,000 had not been paid. However, after struggling for five years, the railway board paid him another Rs 47,000 from that. Sobti said not only is he supposed to receive Rs 43,000 more from authorities, he has been subjected to great mental and physical harassment. “In this age, it is very difficult to move from one place to another. But even then, I will fight for my rights till I die,” he added. Sources said there are many pensioners whose cases were pending with authorities. RK Gupta, chief medical officer, Ferozepur division, said, “We have paid all pending medical claims and those who are claiming reimbursements should have got recommendation from the railway doctor before taking any medical treatment.”

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