Uttarakhand Chief Minister sends over ₹140 Crore directly to 9.4 lakh pensioners' accounts.
Dehradun, January 4
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami transfers pension amounts disbursed by the Social Welfare Department to beneficiaries via click/DBT from the CM Camp Office in Dehradun.
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday transferred the December instalment of various pension schemes being run under the Social Welfare Department directly into the bank accounts of beneficiaries through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system from the Chief Minister's Camp Office. On this occasion, a total amount of ₹140.26 crore was released online to the bank accounts of 9,43,964 beneficiaries.
The Chief Minister said that the state government is continuously working towards the social and economic empowerment of weaker sections of society, senior citizens, widows, persons with disabilities, and destitute individuals. He stated that, to strengthen transparent governance in the state, all payments are now made directly into beneficiaries' bank accounts via the DBT system, ensuring timeliness and transparency.
Chief Minister Dhami directed officials of the Social Welfare Department to identify eligible beneficiaries for old-age pension from age 59 so that payments can begin promptly upon attaining the 60-year eligibility age. He said that the government's objective is to ensure that every eligible beneficiary receives the benefits of welfare schemes without any difficulty.
He further instructed that regular verification and monitoring mechanisms should be strengthened to ensure that no eligible person is deprived of benefits under pension schemes. The Chief Minister reiterated the state government's commitment to the effective implementation of public welfare schemes.
— ANI
Reader Comments
While DBT is good, the pension amount itself is very low considering today's inflation. ₹1000-1500 per month is not enough for senior citizens to live with dignity. The government should focus on increasing the amount substantially, not just on efficient transfer.
Good step! But what about the verification process? In our village, some truly needy widows are still waiting for their names to be added to the list, while others with connections get it easily. The directive to identify from age 59 is promising, but implementation is key.
Transparency in welfare schemes is crucial. DBT has reduced corruption at the local level significantly. Hope they also simplify the application process online for new beneficiaries. Jai Uttarakhand! 🙏
Supporting our elders and vulnerable sections is our dharma. It's heartening to see the government using technology for seva. However, in remote hill areas, bank access is still an issue. They need to ensure banking correspondents or post offices are fully functional.
As someone working in social development, this is a model worth studying. The scale is impressive - 9.4 lakh beneficiaries. The focus on pre-emptive identification (from age 59) shows proactive governance. Hope the monitoring mechanisms are robust.
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