No bank transfer, cheques for pension beneficiaries in Punjab

Sanjeev Singh Bariana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 19

The Punjab Government will set up three camps in each block of the state for disbursal of the enhanced old age pension amount from Rs 750 to Rs 1,500. The beneficiaries will be handed over cheques instead of the existing provision of direct transfer of the amount to their bank accounts.

It’s a poll stunt

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When the amount is directly going into the beneficiaries’ accounts, what is the need to organise special camps? This is being done to woo voters before the Vidhan Sabha elections. an ex-secretary

Cheques for the hiked amount of Rs 1,500 will also be disbursed among the beneficiaries of schemes for the differently abled, widows and destitute. A notification to this regard has already been issued.

The beneficiaries, whose number is estimated at 26 lakh, will be paid the enhanced amount for July. Official sources said special camps were being organised to make people

aware about the enhanced financial benefits.

The development follows a recent decision by the Cabinet sub-committee headed by Local Government Minister Brahm Mohindra. The committee members included ministers Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Aruna Chaudhary and Bharat Bhushan Ashu. Social Welfare Department officials, under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioners concerned,

will hand over the cheques to the beneficiaries.