Patna: Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Friday transferred pension funds worth Rs 1,423.94 crore to the bank accounts of 97.84 lakh beneficiaries across Bihar through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.
Addressing an event organised to mark Pension Day, the chief minister said the government is committed to ensuring that every eligible beneficiary receives pension benefits and instructed officials to identify people who have been left out of the scheme.
Pension Amount Increased
Speaking in the presence of Deputy Chief Ministers Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav, along with Minister Shweta Gupta, Samrat Choudhary referred to the welfare vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
He said the monthly pension amount has been increased from Rs 400 to Rs 1,100. The government is working to ensure that pension payments are credited to beneficiaries’ accounts by the 10th of every month, describing the payment as a right of eligible citizens.
Drive to Cover Left-Out Beneficiaries
The chief minister directed officials to identify every eligible person who is yet to receive pension benefits.
He said elderly people, widows and persons with disabilities must receive the assistance, adding that the government is working to improve the welfare and financial security of vulnerable sections of society.
Identification Campaign to Continue
Acknowledging that some eligible beneficiaries may still have been excluded, Samrat Choudhary said identification campaigns should continue across the state.
He instructed officials to identify eligible individuals not only through the monthly Sahyog programme but also during Panchayat development camps and Panchayat meetings to ensure wider coverage of the pension schemes.
