Sri Muktsar Sahib, April 5, 2020: The district administration is set to start door-to-door distribution of pensions to 75,000 beneficiaries of under four different schemes across the district, informed Deputy Commissioner MK Aravind Kumar.
He emphasized that micro level planning is being successfully executed for larger public interest amid the noval coronavirus pandemic.
The representatives of banks have been assigned this task in rural areas and they must follow social distancing, keep their hands sanitized and abide all government instructions carefully.
The DC clarified that this is one-time measure aimed at helping those pensioners who have not yet been able to withdraw pension from the banks due to enforcement of curfew on account of Coronavirus. It would be back to the usual system of distribution once the curfew is lifted.
District Social Security Officer Naveen Gadwal said that 75,000 beneficiaries will be disbursed around Rs 7 crore amount in the district. “The work of disbursing the grant will start Monday,” he said.
These schemes include old age pension-for which Rs 4.86 crore is received, Widow pension-for which Rs 1.17 crore is received, Nirashrit (destitute) pension-Rs 45 lakh and for handicaps-Rs 46 lakh is received.
He said that though most of the amount of widow pension has been disbursed but even if someone failed to get it previous month he will be provided this month along with the last month’s amount.
The officer said that representatives of 10 banks with nearly 150 branches in the district will be assigned this job of giving hassle free pension to the beneficiaries.