Social Security Pensions to old-age people is one of the key promises on the election manifesto of political parties. In Andhra Pradesh, the previous government periodically increased the eligible pension from Rs 2000 to Rs 3000 in the last five years. The NDA alliance formed by TDP, Janasena and BJP promised to top it up to Rs 4000 at a stretch and handover the same from July 1st. They also vowed to give arrears for the revised pension from April 1st. They also assured to increase the pension of physically challenged individuals to Rs 6000 from the existing Rs 3000.
Now that the NDA alliance was voted to power in an unprecedented manner in the recent assembly elections and Chandra Babu Naidu is all set to form the government. The first big challenge for the new dispensation is that they have to credit 7000 to each pensioner on July 1st which includes the revised pension of Rs 4000 and arrears accrued from April to June.
Now, the authorities concerned have been directed to implement the scheme from July 1st and necessary are underway to carry out the task effectively. The government has came to an estimation that the revised pensions should be disbursed to 65.30 lakh people from July 1st. The previous government earmarked Rs 1939 Crores every month for payment of Rs 3000 pension. Now, it will need Rs 2800 crores per month to meet the revised pensions. On July 1st, they will need to release Rs 4400 Crores due to the promise of arrears.
As per official estimates, the government has identified around 8 lakh people who are physically challenged and eligible for Rs 6000 pension every month from April. Additionally, those who are having permanent disability will be paid Rs 15000 per month. And, patients with kidney Thalassemia will be given Rs 10,000 every month.
On the other side, the authorities are also on the task of identifying eligible individuals in SC, ST and BC communities who are above 50 years old as the NDA alliance promised in their manifesto to give them pension.
