AP Govt to distribute pensions through village, ward secretariats, deliver at home for old, sick, differently abled from April 3 to 6

AMARAVATI: The Andhra Pradesh Government has decided to distribute ‘YSR Kanuka Pensions’ from April 3, 2024, in two different modes.

Without the volunteer system that home delivered the pensions from the past 58 months, the pensions will now be distributed at the village or ward secretariats for those who can move and deliver at the doorsteps of the old, differently abled, and the sick.

A circular issued by the Panchayat and Rural Development Department here on Tuesday said that the ECI after receiving several complaints from an NGO Citizens for Democracy, against volunteers, and the High Court’s order, decided that:

• Volunteers shall be barred from the distribution of cash benefits under any scheme (including pensions) to eligible beneficiaries.

• Handheld devices (mobile/tablets/any other) provided to the volunteers be deposited with the DEOs till the MCC period.

• To ask the Government of Andhra Pradesh to make alternative arrangements for the distribution of benefits of ongoing schemes to already selected benefits using DBT(electronic transfer) preferably or through other regular government employees.

• Instructions were issued to disburse the

pensions through all village or ward Secretariat staff during the elections.

To ensure that the orders of the ECI are implemented without any deviation and at the same time ensure that the disbursement of pensions is not hampered by the non-availability of 2,66,158 village and ward volunteers who earlier facilitated the door-to-door distribution of the pensions to the beneficiaries, the Chief Secretary has held a video conference with all District Collectors.

In the Video Conference, the various options for the disbursement of the pensions such as DBT(Aadhar-enabled Payment System), door-to-door distribution, and distribution at the village and ward Secretariat were discussed in detail.

After considering the manifold difficulties in implementing the door-to-door distribution of pensions given the sudden removal of volunteers from the process of pension distribution; the lesser number of village and ward Secretariat staff as compared to the volunteers; the very high number of pensioners in certain ward secretariats; the Government concluded that :

Distribution of the pensions at village and ward secretariats is a feasible option as the location of the village and ward secretariats is familiar to all the pensioners.

The pensioners can visit the village and ward secretariats at their convenience.

The IT hardware and connectivity are available at all village and ward secretariats.

The work hours of the village, ward secretariats can be extended to expedite the disbursal of pensions.

The adoption of this procedure can be communicated to the pensioners with the least amount of confusion.

The door-to-door distribution of pensions to the beneficiaries who belong to the differently abled category; those drawing pensions under the category of serious ailments; those who are infirm, bedridden, and confined to wheelchairs; and the elderly widows of war veterans drawing Sainik welfare pensions, shall be compulsorily made at their doorstep without any exception, because of humanitarian issues involved.

The working hours of village and ward secretariats shall be from 9.00 am to 7.00 pm, every day, till the pensions are fully disbursed.

Adequate staff and equipment will be deployed at the village & ward Secretariats.

The village panchayats concerned shall be responsible for making the necessary arrangements for adequate shade, seating, and drinking water for the pensioners and for ensuring that no inconvenience is caused to the pensioners.