Archive · 12 Sep 2026
Shankar Naik Urges Simpler Widow Pension Rules in Andhra Pradesh
Vadithya Shankar Naik says some women are having trouble getting government pensions.
He is especially concerned about widows and single women who may not have family support.
The online system reportedly requires them to be at least 50 years old.
Naik says needing help should not depend on a woman’s age.
He also says offices and the online system ask for different documents.
Some women who rent homes may not have electricity bills or house-tax receipts in their names.
He wants officials to accept other ways to verify applicants.
He also wants more time than 10 days for applications.
Vadithya Shankar Naik urged Andhra Pradesh to remove procedural barriers affecting widows and single women seeking social security pensions.
He questioned the online system’s requirement that widows and single women be at least 50 years old.
Naik said pension applicants face conflicting document requirements from Secretariats and the online application system.
He cited electricity bills, voter IDs and house-tax receipts as documents that may be difficult for poor or renting women to provide.
He called for alternative verification, aligned requirements, removal of unnecessary age limits and more than 10 days to apply.
- Who
- Vadithya Shankar Naik, former Andhra Pradesh State ST Commission member and founder and national president of Girijana Praja Samakhya, raised the issue.
- What
- He called for simplified widow and single-woman pension rules, alternative verification and the removal of unnecessary age and procedural restrictions.
- When
- He made the remarks on Friday.
- Where
- He spoke at Shilparamam in Puttaparthi.
- Why
- He said eligible women face financial and social hardships and are being blocked by age limits, conflicting document requirements and short application deadlines.
- Main issue
- Access to social security pensions for widows and single women
- Age requirement challenged
- The online pension system reportedly requires applicants to be at least 50 years old
- Document concerns
- Applicants may be asked for electricity bills, voter IDs and house-tax receipts
- Verification proposal
- Naik requested alternative verification mechanisms
- Application deadline
- He asked the government to provide more time than the 10-day deadline
- Organization
- Girijana Praja Samakhya said it would continue raising the issue
- Location
- Shilparamam, Puttaparthi