Chandigarh - The Social Security, Women and Child Development Department provides pension of Rs 1500 per month to the elderly, widows, dependent children and disabled. During the tenure of the Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, under the direction of Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur, the department conducted a survey of the existence of beneficiaries under the State Pension Scheme from time to time.
According to the survey report, 2.44 lakh dead beneficiaries have been identified. Giving information in this regard, Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur said that as per the report of the survey conducted by the department during the year 2022-23, 1,22,908 beneficiaries receiving pension under the State Pension Scheme were found dead and disabled. From whom Rs 77.91 crore has been recovered.
She further informed that during the year 2023-24, 1,07,571 beneficiaries receiving pension under the State Pension Scheme were found dead and disabled. From whom Rs 41.22 crore has been recovered. He told that similarly during the year 2024-25, till the month of July, 14160 beneficiaries have been found ineligible under the pension scheme. Rs 26.59 has been recovered from these beneficiaries by the state government.
Dr. Baljit Kaur said that a total of Rs 145.73 crore was recovered from 244639 beneficiaries. Out of which Rs 10.54 crore was disbursed from 17851 beneficiaries in Amritsar district, Rs 4.27 crore from 6770 beneficiaries in Barnala, Rs 3.44 crore from 19590 beneficiaries in Bathinda, Rs 2.10 crore from 5984 beneficiaries in Fatehgarh Sahib, Rs 3.39 crore from 6081 beneficiaries in Faridkot, Rs 7.00 crore from 7024 beneficiaries in Ferozepur, Rs 5.59 crore from 13799 beneficiaries in Gurdaspur, Rs 7.09 crore from 12317 beneficiaries in Jalandhar, Rs 4.15 crore from 20434 beneficiaries in Kapurthala, Rs 6.72 crore from 18088 beneficiaries in Ludhiana, Rs 2.41 crore from 11991 beneficiaries in Sri Muktsar Sahib, Rs 14.42 crore from 10054 beneficiaries in Moga, Rs 14.42 crore from 8260 beneficiaries in Mansa The recovery of Rs 2.70 crore from 12204 beneficiaries in SBS Nagar, Rs 3.65 crore from 2918 beneficiaries in Pathankot, Rs 10.61 crore from 24316 beneficiaries in Patiala, Rs 1.15 crore from 4751 beneficiaries in Rupnagar, Rs 21.46 crore from 7888 beneficiaries in Sangrur, Rs 1.59 crore from 4808 beneficiaries in SAS Nagar, Rs 10.06 crore from 11186 beneficiaries in Tarn Taran.
The minister further informed that various schemes have been formulated by the Punjab government for the welfare of the citizens of the state under which the people of the state are getting benefits. He said that the pension is being paid to the beneficiaries directly in their bank account. Apart from this, he said that a budget provision of Rs 5924.50 crore has been made by the state government for the financial year 2024-25 under the State Pension Scheme. He said that an amount of Rs 2505.52 crore has been spent by the government on the pension of 33,58,159 beneficiaries till July 2024.
This amount is given under the old age pension, financial assistance scheme to widows and dependent women, dependent children and disabled persons. The minister said that strict instructions have been given to the officers of the department to ensure that the benefit of pension reaches all the needy beneficiaries. He said that the Punjab government under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann is continuously working with full sincerity to provide clean administration to the citizens of the state.