DC Doda asks for timely release of old-age, other pensions in pandemic

DODA, MAY 19, 2021: District Development Commissioner Doda, Vikas Sharma today directed the Social Welfare Department to ensure timely payment of old-age and other monthly pensions to mitigate the problems of beneficiaries amid the Covid pandemic.

He was reviewing the implementation of various schemes run by Social Welfare department here today.

The meeting was attended by Chief Planning Officer, District Social Welfare Officer, DEPO and DIO.

The meeting was informed that 8950 beneficiaries (old age, widows and physically challenged persons) of district are getting monthly pension of Rs 1000 under National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), while 28809 beneficiaries (old age, widows and physically challenged persons) are getting same amount of monthly pension under Integrated Social Security scheme (ISSS). The beneficiaries covered under both NSAP and ISSS are paid the pension through Direct Benefit Transfer mode, the meeting was told.

The DC directed the concerned to ensure timely release of pension, especially during the ongoing Covid crisis.

Further, it was informed that 1290 new applications seeking sanction of pension under various schemes are pending at the district level.

The DC asked the department to expedite the process to add all eligible persons under the twin schemes. The DSWO was directed to forward the applications to the concerned quarters after due verification at the TSWO level. He was further directed to speed up the ADHAAR seeding of beneficiaries for effective implementation of schemes in DBT mode.

The DC also reviewed other Social Welfare schemes like State Marriage Assistance Scheme (SMAS), NFBS, PMAGY and national foundation for communal harmony schemes (NFFCH) were also reviewed.