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No withdrawals from ATMs for disabled soldiers: Army
The Army has instructed all State banks to withdraw the ATM cards and other facilities extended to disabled soldiers in a bid to stamp out irregularities but has not further elaborated, it was revealed this week. In addition to the ATM facilities banks have also been instructed not to endorse joint accounts maintained by disabled soldiers, especially with their spouses, parents and immediate family members.
According to a directive sent out by the Army disabled soldiers will also no longer be able to give standing orders such as transfers of their salaries to another account.
The monthly wages and other payments of the disabled soldiers are sent only to State-operated banks. There are more than 5,000 disabled soldiers– many without limbs and several who are blind. The Army maintains that the new regulations come in the light of evidence that there were several irregularities such as family members withdrawing wages long after the death of a disabled soldier.
It added that the disabled soldiers will have to make their cash withdrawals in person, despite their disabilities.
One blind soldier from Kandy said the directive was an added burden on him.
“In future I will have to be escorted by my wife or someone else to make the cash withdrawal and this is not a very kind cut for the sacrifice we have made for the country,” he said.
Military spokesperson Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said that though such a circular was issued two months ago it had been withdrawn.
But another disabled soldier told the Sunday Times that when he tried to use the ATM card on Friday the card was rejected and on inquiries made from the bank it was revealed that the circular was still effective.
Brigadier Wanigasooriya said the circular was issued in view of complaints that salaries of disabled soldiers who had passed away were also being drawn by family members without the Army being informed of the soldiers’deaths.