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Amrita Nidhi: Pension Payment Day

While the pensions are being distributed to destitute women all over India, many of the recipients live in Allapad, a subdistrict of Kerala where Amma was born and and Her headquarters ashram, Amritapuri, is located. Because so many people there are so poor, Amma wants to give to nearly everyone. Every three months the local recipients come to Amritapuri to receive their pension checks. Those who live further away are called to branch ashrams in their area.

Early in the morning on the payment day, the women begin to gather in the Amritapuri auditorium. Some even come running through the gate, so anxious are they to get a good place in the queue. The women wait for several hours while the checkers organise their papers and begin distribution.

By midmorning the queues start to move quite quickly.

By mid-afternoon the hall is still full. Women arrive throughout the day. On the day this photograph was taken, more than 7000 women came to receive their pension checks.

Many of the women are grandmothers living with families that cannot afford to support them. They are grateful for the money because it enables them to buy their own soap, tea, and other daily necessities. They also like to buy a toffee or some occasional treat for their grandchildren.

The old ladies are extremely patient. Even though they may suffer from illness they will stand or sit for hours with great forbearance. Also, a new system has been introduced to save the elderly from the long waiting periods and journeys that might be difficult: their relatives can now collect payment for them on producing a piece of identification

Here the women, having completed the registration process, join their final queue of the day, payment sanction papers in hand.

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