The State Government has amended payment procedure of pension schemes governed by the Social Welfare Department under its social assistance programme.
According to an official Press statement issued here on Monday, after the amendment, payment of pension would generally be made through bank accounts for rural areas by Janpad Panchayat and urban areas by urban bodies.
However, in remote villages, where banking facility is not available within 3-km area, cash payment would be made in the first week of
each month.
In this regard, the Social Welfare Department has issued a circular to all district collectors, chief executive officers of district panchayats, joint directors and deputy directors of the Social Welfare Department and chief executive officers of Janpad Panchayats in the State.
According to the circular, if bank is functioning in any village panchayat headquarters and its dependent village is situated over 3-km away, pension payment of village panchayat headquarters will be made through bank and cash payment will be given in dependent villages. Cash payment of pension would be made in the presence of the Sarpanch, Secretary and Panchs of the Village Panchayat concerned and two prominent persons, Anganwadi workers, teachers and Mitanins.
If post office is available within the three-kilometre area of any village, but bank facility is not available, considering non-availability of bank facility, Village Panchayat will make cash payment. The list of village panchayats and villages, where cash payment is to be made, should be approved by the collector of the district concerned.
Earlier, there was a provision to make cash payment of pension in such rural areas where post office or bank facility was not available within
10-km area, in the meeting of Village Panchayat.