Punjab Government committed for welfare of elderly, widows, children, divyang persons and destitute women: Dr. Baljit Kaur

Chandigarh : To make elderly, widows and destitute women, dependent children and disabled persons self-reliant and uplift their social and economic status, Punjab Government led by Chief Minister Punjab Bhagwant Mann has disbursed pension of Rs 4025.28 crores to as many as 30.73 lakh beneficiaries in year 2022.

Social Security, women and Child development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur said that pension payments were made via Public Financial Management System (PFMS), which was implemented in Punjab state to bring transparency in payment of pensions and ensure pension disbursal promptly.

Apart from 30.73 lakh beneficiaries getting pension via PFMS, over 1.88 lakh new pension cases have been sanctioned till November 2022 under pension schemes.Notably, beneficiaries under old age pension and other financial assistance schemes are being given a pension of Rs 1500 per month.

In a recent survey conducted by the Punjab Government via Anganwadi workers, as many as 90,248 beneficiaries were found dead. Out of the 90,248 beneficiaries the Social Security department has also recovered amount of Rs 15 crores from the heirs of 55,082 beneficiaries.

To provide benefits of all the schemes and services of the Punjab Government to the divyang persons of the state, over 2.97 lakh divyang persons have been issued Unique Disability Identity Cards, using which beneficiaries can avail all the facilities using one card.

The database of UDID cards is being prepared at the national level and according to the daily report shared by the Government of India, the Punjab state has secured 11th rank in country.
Poshan Abhiyaan is being implemented in all the districts of Punjab state with an objective to prevent malnutrition, anemia and low birth weight among new borns.

Community based events like Suposhan Godd Bhrai, Ananprashan Diwas and Weight Festival are being orgasnied on 14th and 28th of every month to sensitize beneficiaries about nutrition and health. Around 11,12,814 beneficiaries have been registered on potion tracker. Punjab state has bagged 6th and 7th position in Poshan Pakhwara and Poshan Mah respectively.

Cabinet Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur said that the objective of the free bus travel facility scheme for women by the Punjab government was to create a sense of self-confidence and security among women and to empower them by giving them more freedom to travel alone.

Pertinently, all the women of Punjab are being given the benefit of free bus travel in state owned buses including Punjab Roadways Transport Corporation, Punjab Roadways Buses (Punbus) across the state.

As of now, Rs 310 crores has been transferred to the transport department.Punjab Government has been implemented handicapped Allowance of Rs.1,000/- per month to all disabled officers and employees with effect from 01-01-2023 .