Chandigarh, August 20:
Chief Minister Punjab Bhagwant Singh Mann’s government has distributed Rs 1494.76 crore of old age pension to pensioners till the month of July.
Giving more information in this regard, Minister of Social Security, Women and Child Development Department Dr. Baljit Kaur said that the government is committed to the welfare of people of all classes. She said that there are a total of 30,67,927 beneficiaries of various categories that includes the elderly, disabled, widows and destitute women and dependent children.
The Cabinet Minister said that there are a total of 20,78,886 senior beneficiaries in the state, to whom 1494.76 crores of pension amount has been distributed till the month of July.
She said that the state government has reserved a total budget of Rs 4647.82 crore for various pension schemes, out of which a budget of Rs 3100.27 crore has been provided for old age pension during the current year.
The Cabinet Minister said that men aged 65 or above and women aged 58 or above, whose annual income does not exceed Rs 60,000, are eligible to avail the benefit of this scheme.
The minister said that the financial assistance is paid directly into the bank accounts of the beneficiaries, which are being linked with Aadhaar. She said, so far 96 percent of the bank accounts have been linked with Aadhaar.
