UNDER THE STATE PENSION SCHEME, THE PUNJAB GOVERNMENT RECEIVES RS.44.34 CRORE FROM DECEASED, NRI, AND GOVERNMENT PENSIONER BENEFICIARIES: Dr. Baljit Kaur
DR. BALJIT KAUR ORDERED THE CONDUCT OF A SURVEY RELATING TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY DEPARTMENT’S PENSIONS.
The Punjab government has allocated RS. 5924.50 crore for the 2024–25 pension scheme.
The Punjabi government has developed a number of social programs for the state’s residents, and Punjabis are benefiting from them. Recently, the agency carried out a survey on the existence of beneficiaries under the state pension program, directed by Dr. Baljit Kaur, Minister of Social Security, Women and Child Development. Variations among recipients were shown by the department’s survey report.
In the most recent year (2023–24), 1,07,571 out of 33,48,989 recipients receiving pensions under the State Pension Scheme were found to be ineligible, according to a study from the Department of Social Security, Women and Child Development. From these beneficiaries, ₹41.22 crore has been recovered.
According to Dr. Baljit Kaur, a total of 1,07,571 beneficiaries—106,521 death cases, 476 NRIs, and 574 government pensioners—were determined to be ineligible for benefits last year. These qualified recipients contributed ₹41.22 crore to the state government’s coffers. Under the state pension plan, ₹44.34 crore has been retrieved from a number of recipients who are not qualified.
The recovery of ₹3.50 crore from 5,375 beneficiaries in the Amritsar district, ₹1.77 crore from 3,402 beneficiaries in Barnala, ₹1.08 crore from 1,6099 beneficiaries in Bathinda, ₹0.95 crore from 2546 beneficiaries in Faridkot, ₹0.61 crore from 3049 beneficiaries in Fatehgarh Sahib, ₹0.48 crore from 4,018 beneficiaries in Ferozepur, ₹0.80 crore from 4965 beneficiaries in Fazilka, ₹7.88 crore from 7738 beneficiaries in Gurdaspur, ₹1.74 crore from 5,838 beneficiaries in Hoshiarpur, ₹1.41 crore from 6,404 beneficiaries in Jalandhar, Dr. Baljit Kaur further explained ₹1.61 crore from 4,034 beneficiaries in Kapurthala, ₹1.77 crore from 6,993 beneficiaries in Ludhiana, ₹0.82 crore from 4,329 beneficiaries in Mansa, ₹1.00 crore from 1,721 beneficiaries in Moga, ₹0.78 crore from 5,489 beneficiaries in Sri Muktsar Sahib, ₹0.63 crore from 4,043 beneficiaries in SBS Nagar, ₹2.75 crore from 1,480 beneficiaries in Pathankot, ₹2.78 crore from 7,201 beneficiaries in Patiala, ₹0.37 crore from 2,906 beneficiaries in Rupnagar, ₹6.89 crore from 5,211 beneficiaries in Sangrur, ₹0.21 crore from 2,355 beneficiaries in SAS Nagar, and ₹1.27 crore from 2,375 beneficiaries in Tarn Taran.
The Minister further stated that 3,797 ineligible beneficiaries under the State Pension Scheme were discovered in April of the current fiscal year 2024–25, resulting in a ₹3.12 crore recovery.
Further information was provided by the Minister, who said that the Social Security, Women and Child Development Department pays pensions directly into the bank accounts of the elderly, widowed, dependant children, and divyang Persons totaling ₹1,500 every month. She continued by saying that the state government had budgeted ₹5,924.50 crore for the State Pension Scheme for the fiscal year 2024–2025. The government has paid out ₹1,501.17 crore for beneficiaries’ pensions till May 2024; each month, pension schemes spend roughly ₹502 crore.
The Minister stressed that department representatives have been directed to promptly resume verifying beneficiaries who are receiving pensions. She gave her word that the Punjabi government, under the direction of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is dedicated to giving the people of the state transparent and honest government.
