40 years after husband dies, wife to get pension

After a three-decade-long struggle following the death of her husband employed as a
government teacher, an octogenarian woman will finally get her family pension from the West Bengal government, thanks to a Calcutta High Court order.

Justice KJ Sengupta on Thursday directed the state government to ensure that Gayatri Goswami gets her pension within 12 weeks of communication of the order. Gayatri's husband Rajendramohan Goswami was an assistant teacher at Kurumba Junior High School, at present known as Purba Gopalpur SMP Vidyapith, in Burdwan district from 1960 to 1969, when he died in harness. 

Gayatri got the providend fund and gratuity dues in time. After family pension was introduced in April 1981 under the 'death cum retirement benefit', she became entitled
to it. However, despite several representations, she was denied the pension by the Burdwan district school education department.

She then moved the High Court on March 24 this year.  After hearing the matter, Justice Sengupta on Thursday directed the treasury officer, Katwa in Burdwan to ensure that she gets her family pension within 12 weeks.