The Punjab Government has released an amount of Rs 128 crore for old age pension in the State.
The pension, issued as per the directives by the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on January 23, was paid on enhanced rates of Rs 750 per month as announced by the Chief Minister in the previous Assembly session.
The information was given by the State Finance Department during a review meeting of various social welfare schemes of the Government on Thursday, chaired by the Chief Minister.
Underlining the need to regularise the pension payment, the Chief Minister said that genuine beneficiaries deserved timely payment and his Government was committed to ensuring that they do not suffer in any way because of problems created by the previous Government. The total number of beneficiaries currently stands at 16,24,269, against the earlier 19,87,196.