Quint Impact: Senior Citizen Receives His Money at His Doorstep

An article in The Quint helped a senior citizen in Chennai retrieve his hard-earned money from the Post Office.

A Citizen Q story published on 9 February by The Quint has helped a senior citizen get his hard-earned money from the Post Office.

When a 68-year-old Chennai resident Radhakrishnan visited the General Post Office in the city in a bid to withdraw his fixed deposit, he was turned away. He wanted to withdraw the money to meet expenses of a surgery and his daughter’s wedding. However, he was told that he would have to open a savings account, into which the money would be deposited at a later date.

Radhakrishnan was incensed at what he alleged was indifference on the part of the officials at the Chennai General Post Office (GPO). He also observed that the building did not have ramps or lifts, that would help make it accessible to the elderly and the differently-abled.

Incensed, he reached out to The Quint, saying he simply had to expose the “anti-people” and “gangrene-filled” department.

He sent multiple mails to the Post Master, the Deputy Superintendent and the Public Relations Inspector, but failed to get a response. He then took the matter up with the PMO cell through the website ‘Write to the Prime Minister’.

He urged the Prime Minister to order a thorough investigation into the functioning of the Chennai GPO and requested that his FD amount be credited to his bank account with the IOB, or have a cheque delivered at his residence.

When The Quint contacted the Chennai Post Master, he told us that he would send officials to Radhakrishnan’s residence to get signatures on the savings account forms. A few days later, the cheque was delivered to the senior citizen’s doorstep.

I received a response in just few days after I complained to the Prime Minister’s cell and this article was also shared with everyone I know in the address book. I have got a positive result and now I don’t have to strain running around for my own money.

Radhakrishnan

Radhakrishnan says that a lack of a redressal mechanism and/or a hassle-free senior citizen grievance cell compounds the problems faced by citizens. For every issue – electric pole, gas connection, Aadhaar card, bank accounts – there should be a body to address every issue promptly right in Tamil Nadu, he says.

Everyone has issues. But they don’t come forward to complain. That’s why bribe thrives in our country. We must stand up, not to instil fear or intimidate, but because they are not doing the work they are supposed to.

Radhakrishnan

It is important for every citizen who is cribbing about the poor state of affairs in the country to take the effort to seek redressal and bring to the notice of the officials, he says.

Like Radhakrishnan, you too can be a Citizen Q. Write to us at [e-mail]. Or send a whatsapp video of your grievance to 9999008335 .