1,09,975 benefited under aged old pension schemes in Manipur

A total of 1,09,975 aged people have been availing the benefits of the old aged pension schemes in the state, minister social welfare, Ak Mirabai informed the House of Manipur Tuesday, during the call attention motion.

Mirabai said that under two old age pension schemes in the state, 1,09,975 aged people of the state have been benefitted.

One of the schemes was state sponsored Manipur state old age pension scheme and Central sponsored Indira Gandhi National Old Age pension scheme.

Of the total beneficiaries, 81,499 of them have opened their bank accounts for electronic transfer of their pension to their accounts, the minister said in reply to a calling attention motion move by opposition member, Dr I Ibohalbi.

Drawing the attention of the house, Dr I Ibohalbi of Trinamool Congress said that the recent introduction of the electronic transfer of pension money to the personal accounts of the beneficiaries was not suited in Manipur considering its topography.

Ibohalbi further observed that the banks entertained only 50 pensioners a day while disbursing their monthly pension amount. “This would not do justice to the pensioners,” he added.

In her reply to the calling attention motion, social welfare minister AK Mirabai said that the electronic transfer of pensions under the national and state old age pension scheme have been taken up to ensure the rights of pensioners all over the country.

She said the social welfare department could not transfer money to all the beneficiaries to their personal bank accounts as some of the beneficiaries were yet to open their bank accounts.

However, she added, nearly 80 percent of the pensioner had opened their bank account. Mirabai further informed that under the National Indira Gandhi Old Age Pension Scheme, beneficiaries of age between 60 and 80 year were paid Rs 200 per month and Rs 500 to those above 80 years of age.

She said that pension amounts for widows under Indira Gandhi Widow Pension Schemes and the disability pension scheme have also been increased to Rs 300 a month.

Supplementing to the reply of the social welfare minister, chief minister O Ibobi clarified that the electronic transfer scheme has been taken up all over the country to control misuse of the scheme by certain MLAs.

Regarding the matters raise by Ibohalbi on the inability for the beneficiaries in opening bank account, Ibobi urged the members of the House to spare a day or two or even a week to help the beneficiaries open their bank accounts.