Rising Kashmir: Jammu: Friday, March 15, 2013.
At least 72,
216 pension cases under different schemes are pending in the Social Welfare
department of Kashmir Division, a reply to an RTI application has revealed.
Though the
government claims that presently around 5 lakh people are getting benefitted
under various pension schemes, which include 2.86 lakh in Kashmir and Rs.2.51
lakh in Jammu division, a huge numbers of cases is still pending before the
Social Welfare Department for disposal.
The figures
of pending cases came to fore in an RTI which was filed by activist Raman
Sharma.
While the
department did not give details of Jammu division, the RTI disclosed that a
total number of pending cases under Integrated Social Security Scheme (ISSS) is
24, 216 and under National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) there are as many
as 48, 000 cases only in Kashmir.
In reply to a
question regarding total number of applications for old age, widow and
disability pension pending, the department has replied that under ISSS there
are around 9446 cases of old age pension, around 8718 woman in distress and
number of physically challenged cases are 6052 in Kashmir division only.
The reply
further reveals that around 73,106 disabled persons’ pension benefits in
Kashmir, and 7306 persons with disability have been included in ISSS and Indira
Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNDPS) in last four years.
According to
the response, the total number of old age pension beneficiaries under ISSS is
3113 in last four years. Overall, there are 1, 36, 899 pension beneficiaries in
Kashmir.
Regarding
widow pension beneficiaries, the department informed that there are 2076
beneficiaries under ISSS and under IGNWPS there are around 2424 pensioners in
four years.
Sharma said
with huge number of pending pension cases in Social Welfare Department, it is
questionable as to how the State Government received Poverty Reduction Award
from the IBN7.
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