Govt assures to clear pending old age pension within one month

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaMarch 8, 2022

Minister in-charge Community & Rural Development Hamletson Dohling on Tuesday assured that pension and arrears will be cleared once all beneficiaries are registered under public financial management system (PFMS). 

Replying in the Assembly, Dohling said that it is a fact that some beneficiaries of the National Old Age Pension Scheme (NOAPS) have not received their pensions due to inabilities to register them with PMFS.

Over 4,493 beneficiaries are affected due to this. Of this, 1,177 are in South Garo Hills, 965 in West Jaintia Hills, 876 West Garo Hills, 654 Ri Bhoi, 312 South West Garo Hills, 200 South West Khasi Hills, 137 East Khasi Hills, 119 West Khasi Hills, 28 North Garo Hills, 17 East Garo Hills and 8 East Jaintia Hills. 

He said that the department has not been ignoring this problem and is taking all the necessary actions required to resolve this problem at the earliest and to ensure that the entitlements reach the beneficiaries. 

He said that last tranche of pension disbursed to the beneficiaries for nine districts is February and the remaining 2 districts is January, this year. 

On the concern raised by AITC legislator from Umroi over senior citizens being made to visit the banks for asking for their entitlements, Dohling said that the delay was also due to beneficiaries providing incorrect bank details.

“(However) within a month this problem will be resolved so that all wll get (their entitlements) when they are registered with the PMFS,” he said. 

He also assured that all arrears will also be cleared once the PMFS registration is completed.