“Increasing Pension does not “Helping People”

Shorena Kakabadze, Kutaisi

Today is the first of April (fool’s day in Georgia). From this day on more than half million pensioners in Georgia will receive a 70 GEL pension instead of their much expected 55 GEL. It is not a joke, be it April fool or not; there is a pension increase in Georgia and this is part of the much acclaimed 50-day poverty reduction program that the government boosts so much about. 

The government continues to “take care of”’ its people and this time, and the timing is perfect, just in the run-up to the parliamentary elections, whether this is coincidence or not.  All old folks trying to make ends meet will certainly have been won over to the warm hearted government. It has done so much win over the sympathies of pensioners within the frameworks of so called “50-day Poverty reduction program”.

How could anyone not appreciate what good work the government is doing to take care of its citizens? Nonetheless, the society has negative sentiments towards the government. People meet the fact of increasing pension reluctantly as the prices on fuel and provisions are rather high.

What do pensioners actually think about the government’s latest initiative and what will be changed in their everyday lives when they are providing with this 15 extra GEL per month? Human Rights Centre Kutaisi Branch decided to put these questions to the pensioners who live in Kutaisi:

Lamara Chkhaberidze, 73: “It is good that the pension has been increased, but it does not make me very happy. I wake up everyday with fear in my heart and go to the shop with the same fear. Every time I enter the shop I fear that the prices have increased more. What’s the point in increasing pension if the only products that we can afford to buy are bread and salt? I don’t want to be ungrateful but with a 70 GEL pension I can’t buy anything else other than bread and salt.”

Giorgi Chelidze, 68: “Why must I be happy? This is just another governmental attempt to bait the people in order to win the oncoming election – can it be the reason for happiness? I doubt that. Saakashvili knows that the pensioners are his main electorate and he tries to play on their emotions and financial distress.  It is not a reason to rejoice, not at all, but I am sure there will be some people who will sing president’s praises for having increased pension during his staged meetings with people and TV channels will show this meeting numerous times.”

Tengiz Chanturia, 80: “I feel sorry for the businesspersons that donated money for increasing pensions to us. Saakashvili interested famous businessmen in being nominated to MPs not by chance, but that’s not my business. My concern is that after having worked in auto plant my entire life that I do not want to become a burden on my children. The pension must increase but the prices on products must be closer to what people can actually pay, if not, nothing will do to resolve the problem.”
 
Marina Gurgenidze, 62: “The prices on products have risen and as they say this process will continue. I don’t know how we can live under such circumstances. It is good that the pension has increased, but it does not mean the government takes care of people. New work places have not been created, and even if a person is 60 years or older, it should not mean that this person is handicapped and no longer a productive member of society.  It has been 4 years since I was made redundant and my pension is my only source of income. I don’t expect finding a job as long as this government remains in power.”

Mzisadar Chkhartishvili, 75: “Thanks god we have elections in this country, as it is the only period when government remembers that we even existence. I am not the electorate of Saakashvili or his government. I don’t need anything from them. I admit the pension has increased, but they say the gas tax will rise, so an increased pension is not a benefit whatsoever. It would be better to reduce electricity and gas taxes. People would rest once and forever.”

Shalva Chirgadze, 77: “Yes, I heard about the increase and was very happy. I will be happier if the pension increases up to 100 GEL and will be given according to length of service and merits earned during work. Otherwise this increase will not mitigate the situation. 70 GEL is nothing…. I can hardly manage to buy anything with this amount of money. However, our government doesn’t think about us or real problems that we face. The most important for them is the fact of increasing the pension and the political gain it will bring.”