Dehradun: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami distributed old age pensions online to 61 individuals who turned 60 between September 2024 and October 2024. For the first time, under the Chief Minister’s directives, the process of approving old age pensions as soon as individuals reach 60 years of age has been initiated in the state.
According to these directives, the Social Welfare Department’s pension portal will now accept applications from individuals who are 59 years and 6 months old. Once approved, pensions will commence at the end of the month in which the applicant turns 60, ensuring timely benefits for the elderly.
The Chief Minister emphasized that streamlining this system will allow senior citizens to receive pensions without delay. He noted that the state government has increased the pension amount from Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,500 and extended the benefit to both spouses. The Chief Minister reiterated the government’s commitment to reaching the most marginalized sections of society and delivering welfare schemes effectively. He also expressed his dedication to serving the elderly, considering them as parental figures.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Uttarakhand leading the third decade of the 21st century, the Chief Minister highlighted the state’s continuous progress. He noted that Uttarakhand ranked first in the NITI Aayog’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index and has seen a decline in unemployment. The state has also made strides in the Ease of Living Index.
Over the past three years, nearly 19,000 youths have been appointed to government positions, with efforts underway to fill all remaining vacancies swiftly.
Secretary of Social Welfare, Neeraj Khairwal, shared details of a large-scale campaign conducted from September 25 to October 15, 2024, to identify individuals turning 60 across all districts. During the campaign, data on 12,000 eligible individuals was collected, including those who were 59 years and 6 months old and qualified for old age pensions.
Additional Secretary Gaurav Kumar, Director and Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities Prakash Chandra, and other officials were also present at the meeting.
