The Development for Hills (DFH) and the Federation of All Tribal Youth Clubs, Manipur (FATYCM) have urged the Social Welfare Department to extend the application deadline for the Manipur Old Age Pension Scheme (MOAPS) by at least 30 days, citing difficulties faced by elderly applicants in rural and conflict-affected areas.
In separate representations submitted to the Director of Social Welfare, the organisations expressed concern that although the notification was dated May 30, 2026, it reached the public only on June 1, leaving eligible beneficiaries just nine days to apply before the June 10 deadline.
The bodies argued that ongoing conflict in the state has made travel to district offices difficult and unsafe for many elderly villagers. They also pointed to delays in obtaining mandatory online documents such as caste and income certificates, noting that limited internet access and lack of digital literacy in rural areas make the process particularly challenging.
DFH and FATYCM further contended that the short application window is unfair when compared to disability-related welfare schemes, where beneficiaries are reportedly given much longer notice periods. They urged the government to immediately extend the deadline to ensure that deserving senior citizens are not excluded from the pension scheme.