Chandigarh, May 23: Adhering to its commitment of ensuring timely disbursement under various social welfare schemes, the Punjab Government, led by Captain Amarinder Singh, has made timely disbursement of social security pension for the fifth consecutive month, while also clearing all the AMRUT funds, totalling Rs. 234 crore, that had been pending with the treasury.
The government has released Rs. 135 crore towards the April entitlement of 17.9 lakh beneficiaries, under the social security pension scheme, making the disbursements up to date for 2018, an official spokesperson said on Tuesday.
All AMRUT funds that were pending in the treasury – Rs. 169 Crore of state share and Rs 65 crore central share, have also been released to the local bodies, said the spokesperson, adding that the Chief Minister had directed the officials to ensure that there is no delay in release of funds for any of the social welfare schemes of the government.
The financial crisis faced by the state government notwithstanding, the Chief Minister had ordered the Social Security Department to streamline and regularize the payments, and was personally monitoring the process, said the spokesperson.
The pension amount had been released at the enhanced rate of Rs.750 each to beneficiaries, including elderly, disabled, destitute and widows, said the spokesperson, pointing out that, under the directives of the Chief Minister, disbursement of the pensions had been regularised since January this year.
Further, payments under the social security schemes were now being credited directly into the accounts of the beneficiaries, in order to ensure hassle-free disbursement to the them.
The government had earlier released Rs 128.08 crore in January (for the December pensions), Rs 129.52 crore in February (January pension amount), Rs 129.90 crore in March (for February), and Rs. 131.20 crore in April (towards the March pensions), said the spokesperson.
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