The Punjab Government on Friday set in motion the process of enhancing old age pension, besides deciding to conduct a fresh survey and approving new norms to weed out ineligible pensioners.
Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh directed the Department of Social Security and Women and Child Development to undertake a survey of the existing beneficiaries, which could be clubbed with the ongoing review of the Atta-Dal scheme beneficiaries, to weed out the ineligible candidates from the list.
Chairing a department meeting, Capt Amarinder directed the introduction of new forms, with the new criteria, to be filled up by all pensioners including the existing ones, in order to streamline the process and free the beneficiaries from clutches of Sarpanches and Nambardars.
It was decided in the meeting that the existing pensioners, however, will continue to get the pension benefit pending review of the list.
“All existing beneficiaries will be required to fill new forms till June-end to become eligible for drawing pension from April 2017 onwards, with a provision for five per cent random check by Deputy Commissioner, sub-divisional magistrates (SDM), etc, as per the new norms agreed upon at the meeting,” said the government spokesperson.
Spokesperson said that the Chief Minister also initiated the process of implementation of the Congress promise to enhance old age pension.
The meeting decided to introduce quarterly pension to bring about greater transparency in the system.
As per the new criteria which the meeting agreed upon, Aadhaar card will replace ration card as certification document for all applicants, who would also be required to verify their land ownership, which would then be re-verified from the Patwari.
The verification process for both urban and rural pensions will be simplified with the applicants only required to provide a self-declaration instead of the current system of verification from Municipal Councilor in case of urban pensioners and, in case of rural, from one either two Panchayat members or one Panchayat member along with Sarpanch, Numbardar, or Block Samiti member, Zila Parishad chairperson or member.
It was also decided that all applications would be received by the District Social Security Office (DSSO) and the applicants would be intimated of the acceptance or rejection of their applications within a month.
During the check, if an applicant is found ineligible, the recovery of the double amount will be made from those who recommended or certified the case.
The recovery will be made under Arrears of land Revenue Act.
In an effort to make the system fool-proof, it has also been decided to take action against the officer or officials found to have wrongly included a beneficiary.
Capt Amarinder, addressing the meeting, said that the previous government followed a “discriminatory” approach by sanctioning pensions to their party workers and ignoring the genuine beneficiaries just to strengthen their vote bank. Chief Minister directed the Finance Minister Manpreet Badal to make a budgetary provision to fund these schemes in the forthcoming budget session to ensure regular and uninterrupted disbursement of pensions.