Forty seven-year-old Bhikubhai Solanki has great regard for the Right to Information (RTI) law which has helped him get Rs 258 pension every month now after he struggled to survive for more than six years.

Solanki, who worked as a sweeper with the Jaslok Hopsital in Mumbai, suffered from brain fever, which resulted into paralysis in both his legs in 2003. This also resulted into his termination from the hospital, where he had worked for 23 years.

Worse, he was not given any benefit of pension scheme or accident insurance. Repeated requests to hospital authorities for giving him pension from the provident fund fell on deaf years.

Solanki is the sole breadwinner of his physically challenged family. His wife could not be of much help as she has 40 per cent deformity in her legs and his 20-year-old son is mentally and physically challenged. He cannot even stand up on his legs. Because of Solanki’s ailment, the family’s survival became difficult.

“Whatever little I had saved during my employment of 23 years with the hospital in Mumbai was spent on my ailment. Neighbours and relatives gave food and money which kept my family alive so far,” said Solanki.

Finally, unable to find a way out, Solanki returned to his native Kherda village in Karjan taluka of Vadodara district and filed an RTI with the PF office. On failing to get any information about his pension, he filed an appeal with the Central Information Commission, Delhi.

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