By Chandan Singh | Page 3 News Worldwide | New Delhi
New Delhi: The Delhi government on Tuesday announced the release of pending Old Age Pension amounts, providing relief to senior citizens whose payments had been delayed over the past few months due to technical and administrative issues.
Officials said the dues have now been credited to the bank accounts of affected beneficiaries following directions from Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and after special efforts by Social Welfare Minister Ravinder Indraj Singh. The clearance of payments was completed after the required approval from the Finance Department, they added.
According to the government, Delhi has over 4.35 lakh beneficiaries under the Old Age Pension Scheme, the majority of whom receive their pensions regularly. A limited number of beneficiaries had faced interruptions due to technical reasons, and their entire pending amounts have now been released.
Addressing the issue, Social Welfare Minister Ravinder Indraj Singh said ensuring social security for senior citizens remains a top priority for the government. He emphasised that it is the government’s responsibility to ensure that all eligible beneficiaries receive their entitlements on time and directed the department to make the pension payment system more transparent, smooth and accountable.
The Delhi government said it continues to work towards ensuring a dignified life for senior citizens. In addition to the Old Age Pension Scheme, it is focusing on the distribution of assistive devices, expanding healthcare facilities and setting up new old age homes across the Capital.
