Punjab govt releases Rs 224.70 cr to clear Feb-March pension backlog

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 1

The Captain Amarinder Singh government has released an amount of Rs 224.70 crore to clear the backlog of pensions due to beneficiaries under various social welfare schemes for the months of February and March 2017.

The money, released by the state finance department on the directive of Chief Minister Captain Amarinder, will be used by the social security department for disbursement of pension to the elderly, disabled, destitute and widows, according to an official spokesperson.

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Verification of beneficiaries to ensure that only the genuine and deserving persons get the benefit of pension is under process for payment from April onwards, said the spokesperson. The Chief Minister had ordered reverification of the list of beneficiaries soon after taking over the reins of the government in order to weed out fake names.

The spokesperson further said the Chief Minister was committed to ensuring timely release of social security pensions to the beneficiaries. The government would not tolerate any complacency or laxity in this regard, the CM has made it clear to the concerned departments and officials.

Read also: Pension hike only on paper, elderly suffer

In the Congress election manifesto, the Captain Amarinder government had promised old-age, disabled, destitute and widow pension from Rs 500 to Rs 750 per month.

The government is constantly monitoring the process of payment to ensure that disbursement is done in a regular and timely manner, the spokesman added. The Chief Secretary has been entrusted with the task of keeping tabs on the entire process to prevent any harassment or suffering to the underprivileged people due to official apathy in this regard, the spokesperson added.