Baramulla: For Shameema Begum, an elderly widow from Dodbugh Sultanpora in Baramulla, ₹1,000 a month would mean access to life-saving medicines, and some others basics she struggles to maintain since losing her husband to cancer.
Nearly two years after she first submitted an online application for widow assistance, Shameema remains caught in a cycle of repeated submissions, documentation and waiting. Despite reportedly receiving sanction-related communication, she says the financial assistance has not reached her yet.
Her case raises questions about the functioning of the Social Welfare Department and the Tehsil Social Welfare Office, Baramulla, particularly regarding the handling of vulnerable beneficiaries who depend on social-security assistance.
Shameema lost her husband Abdul Ahad Malla to stomach cancer. Her six children – a son and five daughters are married. She lives largely on her own. She has diabetes, hypertension and other ailments.
With no regular independent income, the elderly woman depends on limited support from her children to meet her daily needs and medical expenses.
Even though there is an elaborate government department with quite a few schemes to help such needy people, in case of Shameema, no such help or support has materialized thus far.
“I am old and sick. Every time I am told to submit the form again, I try to do it. But how many times can a person like me keep running from pillar to post?” Shameema said.
She said she submitted her application for widow assistance online to the Tehsil Social Welfare Officer (TSWO), Baramulla, on December 23, 2024, under reference number JK-SW-PNS/2024/160772. She also submitted all the required supporting documents — including her non-marriage certificate, life certificate, her husband’s death certificate and domicile certificate.
However, according to her account, the payment did not arrive.
She was subsequently asked to refill and resubmit the application one again. The application was resubmitted on February 19, 2025, and again on April 24, 2025, under the same reference number.
A significant development followed on May 16, 2025, when the sanction for financial assistance was reportedly forwarded to the Manager, J&K Bank, B/O Tankipora, Srinagar, under reference number JK/SW/PNS/2024/160772.
Despite this reported sanction, Shameema says no payment was credited to her account. “When I came to know that the assistance had been sanctioned and sent to the bank, I thought my problem was over. But no money came into my account. I could not understand what was happening,” she said.
Instead of receiving the assistance, Shameema was once again asked to submit the application. She complied on January 26, 2026, under reference number JK-SW-PNS/2026/11447. The process, however, did not result in the payment she was expecting.
She was subsequently asked to resubmit the application yet again, which she did on March 11, 2026, under reference number JK-SW-PNS/2026/32492.
The repeated submissions have added to her physical, financial and emotional burden.
“I did whatever I was asked to do. I submitted the documents, waited and then submitted the form again and again. I thought that once the online process was completed, I would finally receive the assistance. But the wait never ended,” she said.
For Shameema, the monthly assistance is directly connected to her ability to manage essential expenses. “I am not asking for a large amount. Even ₹1,000 every month would mean a lot to me. Sometimes I need medicines, sometimes there are household expenses. At this age, I should not have to worry about where the money for my medicines will come from,” she said.
The case illustrates how a modest welfare payment can have significant consequences for a beneficiary living with chronic health concerns and limited financial resources.
For an elderly widow, repeated trips, online form submissions and uncertainty about payment status can become a serious obstacle, particularly when she relies on others to navigate digital procedures.
Shameema’s experience also highlights concerns about the accessibility of online welfare services for vulnerable sections of society.
Widows, elderly persons, people with disabilities and other beneficiaries dependent on social-security assistance may face difficulties with digital applications, repeated documentation, corrections and unclear processing timelines.
Online systems are intended to simplify access to government schemes, reduce unnecessary visits to offices and improve the transparency of benefit delivery. However, when applicants are asked to resubmit forms repeatedly without receiving clear explanations or timely resolution, the process can become an additional burden.
Shameema says he is unable to understand why her applications have not resulted in payment despite completing the formalities at least a dozen times.
“I don’t know what mistake is happening in my application. I only know that I have submitted the forms whenever I was asked. I just want someone to look into my case and tell me clearly what is happening,” she said.
Shameema has appealed to the concerned authorities to examine her case, trace the status of her applications and the reported sanction; identify the reason for the delay and release the assistance without requiring another unnecessary round of paperwork.
“I have spent these years waiting. I don’t want to keep asking people for help. If this assistance is meant for widows like me, please release it. At least I will be able to buy my medicines without worrying every month,” she said.
Her experience also points to the need for a review of other pending welfare applications, particularly those belonging to widows, elderly persons, people with disabilities and beneficiaries who may struggle to complete digital formalities independently.
The issue is not simply about a delayed payment. It concerns whether social welfare assistance reaches the people for whom it is meant, and whether adequate human support is available when digital procedures become difficult to navigate.
Behind every pending application is more than a reference number. For someone like Shameema Begum, it may represent the money needed to buy the next dose of medicine.
When contacted Tehsil Social Welfare told Kashmir Images that her case has been sanctioned on May 16, 2025 under reference number JK/SW/PNS/2024/160772 but unfortunately, there has been name mismatch, at the bank it is recorded as Shameema Begum while in Adhaar it was Shahmeema Begum – “due to which payment couldn’t get credited as KYC and Aadhar Linking was pending for Direct Bank Transfer”.
“We are here for such beneficiaries. They don’t understand the technical issues. Regarding her fresh application again her husband’s name has been written as Ghulam Ahmad instead of Abdul Ahad due to which the fresh application has been reverted,” she informed.
The Tehsil Social Welfare assured that once the applicant comes to her office, she will personally look into her case and try her best to help the widow in whatever possible way.
