Annual survey in Haryana to identify old beneficiaries

Chandigarh, Feb 17 (UNI) Haryana Government has constituted an Advisory-cum-Co-ordination Committee under the chairmanship of Social Justice and Empowerment Minister, Mrs. Kartar Devi for conducting survey every year to identify new beneficiaries under Old Age Allowance Scheme under National Policy.

A spokesman of the Haryana Social Justice and Empowerment Department said that a Grievance Redressal Cell had also been constituted under the chairmanship of Additional Deputy Commissioner in each district of the state.

The Director, Social Justice and Empowerment Department had been nominated as Nodal Officer under the Scheme. Besides, the State Action Plan for older persons has also been finalized, he informed.

Referring to the various welfare activities, he said that the State Government had introduced a number of welfare schemes to meet out the needs of older persons.

As many as 1,73,291 new beneficiaries have been identified during survey conducted in the State under Old Age Allowances Scheme and allowance of Rs 300 per month per beneficiary had been sanctioned.

The spokesman also informed that the State Government is running a Home for Aged and Infirm at Rewari where inmates were provided ration money at the rate of Rs 600 per month and Rs 50 per month pocket money with a budget provision of Rs 14.20 lakh during the year 2007-08.

He said that an Old Age Home had been constructed at Ambala while one each with a cost Rs.30 lakh was under construction at Yamunanagar, Rohtak and Hisar with the financial assistance received from Centre.

Besides, six Old Age Homes (for maintenance of inmates) and 12 Day Care Centres were also being run through NGOs.

Under the National Social Assistance Programme, an amount of Rs 32.96 crore had been released by the Centre of India to cover 4500 beneficiaries under National Family Benefit Scheme and 1,18,593 beneficiaries under National Old Age Pension Scheme.

UNI JN BP2020