Bihar govt transfers Rs 1,423 cr to 97.84 lakh pension beneficiaries
Patna, July 10
The Bihar government has disbursed Rs 1,423.94 crore through the Direct Benefit Transfer system to approximately 97.84 lakh beneficiaries under various social security pension schemes, providing financial assistance to elderly citizens, widows, and persons with disabilities across the state.
The programme was held at the 'Sankalp Hall' in Lok Sevak Awas, Patna, in the presence of senior ministers and government officials.
The government transferred Rs 1,100 into the bank accounts of eligible beneficiaries under the social security pension schemes. The total amount released for the exercise exceeded Rs 1,423.94 crore.
The state government announced that, henceforth, pension amounts will be credited directly into beneficiaries' bank accounts on the 10th of every month through DBT. The initiative is intended to ensure timely payments and reduce the need for beneficiaries to visit government offices to follow up on pension disbursement.
Addressing the programme, Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary said that 'Bihar Pension Day' is observed every year on July 10 and extended his greetings to all pension beneficiaries. He said the government's objective is to ensure timely financial assistance for vulnerable sections of society.
Referring to the broader development agenda, he stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is working towards the vision of a "Viksit Bharat" (Developed India), while former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has focused on building a prosperous Bihar. He said social security programmes are being strengthened in line with these objectives.
Samrat Chaudhary noted that the monthly social security pension has been increased from Rs 400 to Rs 1,100, a move he said has provided substantial financial relief to lakhs of senior citizens, widows, and persons with disabilities.
He directed officials to identify and enrol all eligible individuals who are not yet covered under the pension schemes. The Chief Minister instructed the administration to ensure that every eligible beneficiary is included in the social security pension programme.
He emphasised that no deserving individual should be deprived of the benefits of the scheme and directed officials to expedite the inclusion of eligible applicants while ensuring transparent and timely pension distribution.
The programme was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav, Social Welfare Minister Shweta Gupta, and other senior officials, reaffirming the government's focus on strengthening Bihar's social security network through regular and direct financial assistance.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good intentions but the real challenge is implementation. Many beneficiaries in rural Bihar don't have easy access to banks. Hope the government also sets up more banking correspondents or mobile banking vans in remote areas. Otherwise, the money will just sit in accounts while people struggle to withdraw it.
Finally, a move that directly touches the lives of the most vulnerable. ₹1,100 might not seem much in cities, but for a widow or an elderly person in a Bihar village, it's a lifeline for basic medicines and food. Good to see the CM personally overseeing the disbursement. Hope other states also follow this model.
I appreciate the digitization and transparency, but is ₹1,100 really enough in 2024? Inflation has made everything expensive—from atta to medicines. While DBT is good, the amount should be revised periodically. The elderly and disabled deserve dignity, not just survival wages.
Bihar's social security network is improving bit by bit. The instruction to identify and enrol all eligible people not yet covered is the most important part. So many deserving people are left out due to lack of documents or awareness. Hope the administration works hard on this ground-level task. 🙏
Good news. But the government should also focus on the quality of life for these pensioners. Money alone isn't enough—they need affordable healthcare, old age homes, and respectful treatment in society. Still, this monthly transfer on the 10th is a positive step. Better than the old system where payments were delayed for months.
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