Chandigarh: The Department of Social Welfare, Women and Child Development organised a function for distribution of Rupay Cards/ ATM Cards to the pension beneficiaries at Senior Citizen Home, Sector 43-A, Chandigarh. MP Kirron Kher, was the Chief Guest on this occasion and she distributed Rupay Cards/ATM cards to 52 pension holders.
The main objective of the department is to provide Social Security/ financial assistance to widows and old age persons who are without any means of subsistence. Earlier, old age/ widow/ Disabled pension whose family income was upto Rs.12,000/- p.a was provided @ Rs. 200 – Rs.500/- p.m. to those. Now, the rate of all pensions i.e. old age/ widow/ Disabled and Dependent Children of widows pensions has been increased from Rs. 200 – Rs.500/- to Rs.1000/- p.m. w.e.f. 01.04.2016. The rate of Disabled pension has been increased from Rs.500/- to Rs.1000/- p.m. to the persons having disability from 40% to 70% and Rs.2000/- to the persons having disability more than 70%.
In order to facilitate the distribution of pension benefit, the department has now introduced distribution of pension through Rupay Cards/ ATM w.e.f. 01.04.2016 in collaboration with ICICI bank. The Hon’ble Chief Guest appreciated the efforts done by the department and effective implementation of the Welfare Schemes. Ms. Nishu Singal, Director Social Welfare gave vote of thanks to the Chief Guest and all the participants.