Bank account number compulsory for senior citizens' pension

Panaji, July 27 (UNI) The government has made bank account number compulsory for the beneficiaries of the pension under the Dayanand Samajik Suraksha Yojana(DSSS) for senior citizens so that the amounts could be transferred to their respective accounts by the fifth of every month giving no scope for delays.

This was stated by Social Welfare Minister Subhash Shirodkar in reply to Vinay Tendulkar(BJP)'s question in the State Legislative Assembly today. About 94,547 people out of more than one lakh applicants got the sanction for the pension so far.

''About 3600 applicants who were sanctioned could not get the pension for want of the bank details. The government is speeding up approvals. The beneficiaries are 17,054 women and 3072 disabled senior citizens,'' he said.

The pension to the tune of Rs 750 per month had hitherto been distributed by the government functionaries and local legislators to make the people aware of the scheme till now. Once the beneficiaries submitted the bank account particulars, the amount would be regularly credited to their accounts, he added.

Entire system had been computerised and officials were asked to check bogus claims, if any, he added.

UNI BM ADG LL RS1732