Bengal to raise welfare pensions, redraw beneficiary list, says CM

Kolkata: Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday announced a Rs 500 increase in pensions and monthly assistance under various social welfare schemes while launching the distribution of enhanced pensions for people with disabilities and widows. He said it would take another year to restructure the state's economy, blaming the previous TMC government for failing to tap Central schemes. The BJP government, he said, had enrolled in all such schemes. Revenue collection has risen 18 per cent in three months as the state works to plug leakages. The government on Monday decided to scrap the waiting list prepared by the previous TMC for old-age, widow and disability pensions, announced Adhikari. He said that there are many who are not disabled but taking the benefits. He said that beneficiaries would now be selected afresh through Jan Kalyan camps to be held at gram panchayat and block levels towards the end of November. CM said the move is aimed at ensuring that government benefits reach genuinely eligible beneficiaries. The government increased the monthly pension for widows, elderly people and persons with disabilities from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500. Adhikari said: 'The enhanced amount, which came into effect from August, had been credited to beneficiaries on Monday. Those receiving Rs 1,000 till July received Rs 1,500 now.' The government will also intensify scrutiny of pension beneficiaries. Adhikari said: 'People inflating their age or using fake documents to access welfare schemes would no longer be accepted.' He said around 50,000 names had been deleted due to SIR, and old-age pensions to 50,000 fresh beneficiaries would be given in Kolkata. In another welfare measure, around 1.24 lakh women aged 25-60 with disabilities will receive Rs 3,000 under the Annapurna scheme, the CM said. He urged the widows aged 25-60 to opt for the Annapurna scheme instead of continuing with the Rs 1,500 widow pension.