The long queue outside bank branches is no longer a surprise. But that it gets longer towards the second fortnight of the month can make anyone guess the plight of pensioners, widows and senior citizens who queue up at least 2 hours ahead of business hours to get the pension.
Here in this temple city of Madurai it was a sight to see aged women, some of those who probably are not fit to take care of their daily needs, get off auto rickshaws to reach the SBI main branch located opposite the railway station
The slight drizzles since morning and the otherwise pleasant morning for others who fret the heat seemed to pose further trouble to these aged people
Sagi, a widow said that she has not received the Rs 1,000 monthly pension for the last 2 months
"I have an account at the Jaihindipuram branch but the officials there said that I will have to go to the main branch to get my pension. On my arrival here at 9 am I was told that I will have to get it from the home branch.
It's been a difficult 2 months. Though I do small errands to eke out a living, to get this pension I have walked up to the branch at least 7-8 times in the past 6 weeks. It's frustrating as there is no clear direction from the officials,'' she said.
But for the queue business seemed to go on as if nothing unusual had happened in the last couple of weeks.
The branch in fact boasts of a home loan mela amidst this fury.