Kandari concerned over delay in payment of Welfare pension

DEHRADUN, 22 Jan: Social Welfare Minister Matbar Singh Kandari today admitted that he had received multiple complaints regarding irregularities in grant of pensions for the senior citizens, handicapped and widows. He stated that according to the complaints received, the funds meant for the pensions under these categories had had not reached the beneficiaries in several cases on time. These funds are on the mandatory basis paid through the bank accounts and saving accounts in the post offices.
Kandari said that the banks had informed that the they had not been delivered the pension funds and as a result were unable to credit the accounts of the beneficiaries. On the other hand, the Social Welfare Department officials claimed that the amount of the pension going through them was always forwarded to the banks and post offices on time.
Kandari also appealed to the bank officials and Post Masters to get the pension amount distributed on time to the beneficiaries. But the appeal didn’t seem to have any effect and there had not been any positive outcome. Kandari said that he had directed all officials of the Social Welfare Department to take personal interest in ensuring that the beneficiaries were given the pension on time and also get the reports in this connection from the banks and the post offices concerned. He asked them why the pension amount was not being distributed on time if it had been submitted on time by the Social Welfare officials. Kandari also directed them to submit a report detailing the mode the of the payments made so far and from which banks and post offices as well as the payments pending.