Deccan Chronicle

New beneficiar­ies await pensions under Aasara

- DC CORRESPOND­ENT

About 10–15 lakh people, who have applied for pensions under Aasara scheme, have been waiting for the past two years with the hope that Chief Minister K. Chandrashe­kar Rao will provide solace to them by okaying their applicatio­ns and granting them pensions.

During 2018 elections, the TRS boss had promised to reduce the age limit for old age pensions from 60 years to 57 years. Following this, officers subsequent­ly received applicatio­ns from eligible beneficiar­ies between the age of 57 years to 60 years.

Already two years have elapsed, but there has been no indication from the state government whether or not these applicatio­ns will be approved and when.

Welfare officials disclosed that they have only been awaiting orders from the state government in this regard, as they have already processed the applicatio­ns of eligible beneficiar­ies. Officials said as there have been no orders for payment of pension to

ALREADY TWO years have elapsed, but there has been no indication from the state government whether or not these applicatio­ns will be approved and when. ● WELFARE OFFICIALS disclosed that they have only been awaiting orders from the state government in this regard, as they have already processed the applicatio­ns of eligible beneficiar­ies. Officials said as there have been no orders for payment of pension to people above 57 years, they are distributi­ng pension of ₹ 2,016 only to each of the people exceeding 60 years of age.

people above 57 years, they are distributi­ng pension of ₹ 2,016 only to each of the people exceeding 60 years of age.

Officers say the state government will have to bear an additional burden of around ₹ 3,600 to ₹ 4,000 crore for payment of pensions to beneficiar­ies between the age of 57 years to 60 years. They point out that the state government has already been spending ₹ 1,756 crore per month for payment of pensions to 39,29,753 existing beneficiar­ies in the state.

 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from India