About Rs129 crore had been distributed to 6.78 lakh beneficiaries of ‘Indira Gandhi National Old-Age Pension Scheme’ in the current fiscal 2014-15 till December month in the State. Indira Gandhi National Old-Age Pension is in operation since October 1, 1995 in the State. The Below Poverty line (BPl) citizens in the age-group of 60-79 years get Rs300 per month and those above 80 years get Rs600 per month, officials stated.
Social Welfare Department sources said that in Raipur district Rs6.38 crore was given to 32,713 beneficiaries, in Balodabazaar-Bhatapara district Rs7.24 crore was given to 35,877 old citizens, in Gariband district Rs3.12 crore was given to 17,186 citizens, in Mahasamund district Rs7.25 crore was given to 34,543 beneficiaries, in Dhamtari district Rs3.39 crore was given to 17, 808 citizens, in Durg district Rs5.48 crore was given to 29, 735 old citizens, in Balod district Rs1.84 crore was given to 17,435 citizens, in Bemetara district Rs1.77 crore was given to 16,544 beneficiaries, in Rajnandgaon district Rs6.75 crore was given to 32, 057 senior citizens, in Kabirdham district (Kawarda) Rs4.58 crore was given to 22,887 older citizens.
In Bastar district Rs4.31 crore was distributed to 20, 280 senior citizens, in Kondagaon district Rs3.18 crore was given to 13,958 beneficiaries, in South Bastar (Dantewada) district Rs1.20 crore was given to 4839 older persons, in Sukma district Rs1.39 crore was given to 7,333 older persons, in North Bastar (Kanker) district Rs3.68 crore was given to 18,097 citizens, in Jashpur district Rs4.19 crore was given to 22,933 beneficiaries, in Surguja district Rs6.82 crore was given to 32, 817 senior citizens and in Koriya district Rs2.36 crore was given to 10,347 senior citizens.