CM launches direct transfer of pension scheme

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh August 4

With a view to ensuring transparency in the disbursement of social security pension, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today transferred social security pension for July amounting to about Rs 119 crore directly into the bank accounts of 10,01,795 eligible beneficiaries under the scheme “Thari pension thare pass” by pressing a button here. He also transferred the pension arrears from March to June amounting to Rs 13.23 crore.

Under the first phase of the scheme, over 10 lakh beneficiaries living in 1,744 villages and 81 towns in the state would get pensions through banks and post offices. The residents of other villages would, for the time being, get their pension manually.

The beneficiaries of social security schemes would get their pension through different modes, including bank branchs, post offices, business correspondent agents (BCAs), additional BCAs, primary agricultural cooperative society (PACS), Vodafone M-Pesa, common service centres and gramin dak sewaks. The beneficiaries could withdraw the amount as per their requirement .

There are currently over 23.3 lakh beneficiaries getting pension under various social security schemes entailing a monthly expenditure of Rs 270 crore.

Khattar said the state government had decided to disburse pension under various social security schemes, including old age samman allowance, widow and destitute pension, disability pension, financial assistance to destitute children, allowances to eunuchs, dwarfs and disabled children, through banks.