INDIA: State pension not paid for three months to 3.9 million

BANGALORE, Karnataka / The Hindu / News / June 7, 2011

Pension dues will be released by July 15, assures Chief Minister 

By Special Correspondent

Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa told the Karnataka Legislative Assembly on Monday that the pending money of pensioners would be released by July 15 after giving necessary directions to the Finance Department headed by him.

Replying to a question of H.S. Shankaralinge Gowda (BJP), Mr. Yeddyurappa said pensions to new applicants would be released after scrutiny.The pending amount for existing beneficiaries would be released before July 15.

Earlier, Mr. Gowda and Shivaraj Tangadagi (independent), alleged that there had been delay in releasing pension amount to senior citizens and widows. No amount had been released for beneficiaries for the last three months, they alleged.

Photo for illustration courtesy: sulekha.com

Minister for Revenue G. Karunakara Reddy said there are about 39 lakh elderly, widows and disabled people in the State who receive pension. Nearly 90 per cent of the pensions are being disbursed through money orders and the rest through public sector banks. About 2.94 lakh beneficiaries had been weeded out from the list for submitting bogus applications. The department has received 67,000 new applications since March last, Mr. Reddy said.

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