Categories
Journalistic Survey
Articles
Reportage
Analitic
Photo Reportage
Exclusive
Interview
Foreign Media about Georgia
Editorial
Position
Reader's opinion
Blog
Themes
Children's Rights
Women's Rights
Justice
Refugees/IDPs
Minorities
Media
Army
Health
Corruption
Elections
Education
Penitentiary
Religion
Others

State Duty or Simple Indifference

March 28, 2007

kacib.gif“I received my trauma when I was carrying out my professional duty, and the state is obligated to provide me assistance until my death,” said Temur Ivanidze.

On September 5, 2003, an explosion occurred at the Samtskhe-Javakheti Administration Building. Temur Ivanidze, a clerk at the building, was badly injured. Since that time, he has been waiting for his pension.

As a result of the terrorist act, the left foot of Ivanidze was amputated. He lost the sight in his left eye and cannot hear from his left ear as well. He returned to work after having received an artificial limb. However, his employer advised him to take one-year sick leave in order to recover completely. A year passed, and his employer refused to place him back on staff because he was disabled.

“It’s not like I’m applying for the job off the street. The Administration should have taken me back, and besides that, they should have granted me disability for the injury I received while on the job,” said Ivanidze.

He said that he was asked to write a resignation statement. “Otherwise, I would have lost the pension, too, and been left without any income at all. In January 2005, I left the job and 100 LARI was to be given me a month. I was to receive that assistance until my death according to the case resolution,” said Ivanidze.

Since January 17, 2005, Temur Svanidze received 100 Lari and 80 percent of his previous salary. However, since January 1, 2006, the Regional Administrative Board stopped paying any assistance to Svanidze.

“During the six months after the time Goga Khachidze was appointed to the position of regional governor, I did not receive any assistance. The reason was that I did not have the requisite identification card. When I applied for the card, Sergo Fareishvili of the Legal Service Department told me that I deserved only 45 Lari in disability. He also said that the 100 Lari I was receiving was illegal. How can I buy medicines with those 45 Lari? My eyes need drops everyday. I could not completely cure my leg because of a lack of money. Besides that, I have six children and how can I provide for them? Should a representative of the Administrative Board be so indifferent to my problems?”

“Temur Ivanidze will receive 55 a month. As for the 100 Lari he used to receive, you can find information about those payments from the accountant’s office,” said Sergo Fareishvili.

At present, Ivanidze receives 55 Lari a month. However, he said that to get the money he needs to produce documents.

“Unless I produce receipts for the medicines I’ve purchased every month, they do not give me the money. I have produced all documents on my health conditions, medical reports and certificate of disability to the Administrative Board. I do not know when they will stop this assistance, too. I received the injury on the job. Thus, the state is obligated to provide me with assistance until my death,” said Ivanidze.

Gulo Kokhodze, Akhaltsikhe

News