Captain Amarinder Singh approves new criteria for pensioners in state
Saturday, 06/05/2017
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Chandigarh : Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Friday, set in motion the process of increasing old age pensions while approving new criteria to ensure that only bonafide candidates benefit from the state’s financial assistance schemes.
He also directed the Department of Social Security and Women & Child Development to undertake a survey of the existing beneficiaries, which could be clubbed with the ongoing review of the ‘Atta Dal’ scheme beneficiaries, to weed out the ineligible candidates from the list.
Chairing a department meeting here, Amarinder directed the introduction of new forms, with the new criteria, to be filled up by all pensioners including the existing ones, in order to streamline the process and free the beneficiaries from the clutches of Sarpanches and Nambardars.
The existing pensioners, however, will continue to get the pension benefit pending review of the list, it was decided at the meeting. All existing beneficiaries will be required to fill new forms till June-end to become eligible for drawing pension from April 2017 onwards, with a provision for 5 per cent random check by Deputy Commissioner, SDM, etc., according to new norms agreed upon at the meeting.
Disclosing details of the meeting, an official spokesperson said the Chief Minister has also initiated the process of implementation of the Congress promise to enhance old age pension. The meeting decided to introduce quarterly pension to bring about greater transparency in the system.
As per the new criteria which the meeting agreed upon, Aadhaar card will replace ration card as certification document for all applicants, who would also be required to verify their land ownership, which will then be reverified from the Patwari.
The Chief Minister asked Finance Minister to make a budgetary provision to fund these schemes in the forthcoming budget session to ensure regular and uninterrupted disbursement of pensions.
