Financial assistance to reach in right hands through Micro ATM

 By Punjabnewswire4u.blogspot.com 

CHANDIGARH, MAY 18

  The Punjab Governor and Administrator, UT, Chandigarh, Mr. Shivraj V. Patil, today inaugurated disbursal of pension scheme through Aadhaar Enabled Bank account and disbursed pension to beneficiaries by using Micro ATM today at Punjab Raj Bhavan.

       Mr. Patil said that centre’s ambitious direct cash transfer scheme will help in better targeting of subsidies and reducing delay in delivery of benefits besides curbing wastages and leakages. He said this scheme will also gave a sense of empowerment to the people, increases their faith in the processes of governance and therefore has a far larger positive effect that can be measured by the direct advantages they give. The pension will be credited to their bank account and bank will be reaching out at Sampark /Gram-Sampark centers across the UT through their business correspondents so that beneficiaries can withdraw their pension in a total comfortable and hassle free manner.

       Appreciating the scheme, Mr. Patil said with this Direct Benefit Transfer System, the financial assistance would reach in right hands. He said all types of pension covered under this scheme and 10456 old age pensions, 5706 widows and destitute women, 3047 disabled persons and financial assistance to 1474 dependent children’s of widows will get direct benefit.

Mr. Patil said that the Chandigarh Administration has decided in May 2012 to deliver Social Security Pensions in Chandigarh through Aadhaar Enabled Bank Accounts. A good example of such use is the Aadhar programme for providing all the residents of our country a unique identity, and also the Director Benefits Transfer Scheme based on Aadhaar numbers.

Later on Mr. M.P. Singh, Principal Secretary to Governor, also disbursed pensions to remaining beneficiaries.

Appreciating the support of Chandigarh Administration in facilitating the enrolments, enrolment status checking and eAadhaar downloading through various Sampark Centres in the City, Mrs Keshni Anand Arora, Deputy Director General, UIDAI, Chandigarh thanked the Administrator for his guidance and support, due to which the entire process of pension payments could be changed from cash payments to Aadhaar Based Benefit transfer. She said Chandigarh presently has almost 94% per cent Aadhaar enrolment coverage with 8.18 Lakh Aadhaars issued to the residents.

Director Social welfare UT disclosed that ICICI BANK is banking Partner in this novel initiative of Chandigarh Administration of facilitating Aadhaar Enabled Payment System through Sampark centers. There will be no need to fill up any slip or form or to sign anywhere. The beneficiaries can now withdraw partial amount also as per their need and balance amount will accumulate in their Bank Account, thus leading to savings, which they can use for future need. This system will also enable the Department to disburse pensions on monthly basis instead of quarterly disbursements earlier.

Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Mr. V.K. Singh, Finance Secretary, Mrs. Prerna Puri, Secretary IT-cum Joint Secretary Home and Ms Tanvi Garg, IAS.