Old-age pension to go into bank accounts only

New Delhi, Jan 18 (PTI)

In an effort to streamline theold-age pension disbursal system, Delhi Government todaydecided to completely do away with paying the monthlyemolument through post offices and instead it will be giventhrough banks only.

Out of over three lakh old-age pensioners, 80,677people have been drawing the amount of Rs 1,000 every monththrough post offices and they now have to open bank accountswithin six months.

At a meeting of the Delhi Cabinet presided by ChiefMinister Sheila Dikshit it was decided to pay the old-agepension through bank accounts only, said Social WelfareMinister Mangat Ram Singhal.

The city government pays the old-age pension to poorpeople aged 60 years or above.

"We have decided to pay only through banks as it willhelp in smooth transfer of pension money. More than 2,13,000beneficiaries have already been receiving their pensionthrough banks," said an official.

The Cabinet also recommended to Lt Governor TejinderKhanna to prorogue the winter session of the fourthlegislative assembly. The session commenced on November 23,2010 and was adjourned sine-die on December 1, 2010.