Month on, Muktsar villagers yet to get revised pension

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, February 15

Villagers in the district are yet to get enhanced pensions even though the gram panchayats have been given the money. The pension was to be disbursed among the people in January.

The state government recently hiked pension for the elderly, widows and the differently abled from Rs 250 to Rs 500 per month. On the other hand, the beneficiaries in urban areas have already been paid the revised pension.

As per the fresh policy, beneficiaries in rural areas will get pension through the village panchayats and those in urban areas will get the money in their bank accounts. In Muktsar district, 53,892 of the total 67,887 beneficiaries belong to rural areas.

“We haven’t been paid yet. The panchayats have been told not to disburse pensions until February 18. The government will hold a function that day to mark the launch of enhanced pension,” villagers said. Sarpanches of Udekaran, Haraj and Raniwala villages also complained that they had not got their pension yet.

Sources in the Social Security Department said they would start disbursing pension in rural areas after February 18.

However, Naresh Kumar, District Social Security Officer, said, “We have transferred the pension funds into the accounts of gram panchayats. They are free to disburse the money.”

The district had received Rs 3,39,43,500 to disburse among the beneficiaries for January.

Courtesy: The Tribune