Govt pension: Najafgarh tops list of beneficiaries

New Delhi: The capital's outskirts and high-density areas are leaning more on state support, an area-wise map of its old-age pensioners shows.While these areas dominate the list of 4.4 lakh Delhi govt pension beneficiaries, central and Lutyens' Delhi have the lowest numbers.
Najafgarh tops the list with 11,653 senior citizens who receive pension, followed by Uttam Nagar (11,198), Bawana (10,426), Rithala (10,305) and Narela (10,259). In contrast, New Delhi has just 1,164 beneficiaries — the lowest in the city — followed by Delhi Cantt (1,937) and R K Puram (2,036).Overall, nine constituencies, including Mundka, Mustafabad and Gokalpur, have cross the 9,000 mark. These areas are largely marked by informal and migratory labourers and weaker family-safety nets."The distribution of the beneficiaries shows the social security map of the capital. Areas with high numbers of such beneficiaries show that thousands of people who spent their careers in the informal economy are now ageing without a financial cushion, apart from this meagre financial support from Delhi govt," said an official.This pension is provided to registered beneficiaries under Delhi Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens Act, and is handled by the department of social welfare of Delhi govt.Seniors who are between 60 and 69 years receive Rs 2,000 a month. Those who are 70 or older get Rs 2,500. Only those with a family income below Rs 1 lakh qualify for this pension.On Feb 4, Delhi govt cleared pending payments, with registered beneficiaries receiving the arrears in bank accounts. The payment had been pending for months because of technical and administrative reasons. The department of social welfare cleared it after receiving approval from the finance department."Ensuring all eligible beneficiaries receive their rightful entitlement on time is govt's responsibility. I have directed the social welfare department to make the payment system more transparent, smooth and accountable. Delhi govt is continuously working to ensure a dignified life for senior citizens," said social welfare minister Ravinder Indraj.An official said govt is likely to launch an evaluation of existing beneficiaries this month, under which they will be verified. "The groundwork for the launch of the verification has already been completed. Its purpose is to weed out ineligible beneficiaries as well as plug gaps in targeting and delivery," the official said.The study will assess how effectively the scheme supports the elderly financially and socially, examining its impact on reducing poverty, easing income insecurity and helping senior citizens meet essential needs of food, medicines and other utilities.According to official records, over 70,000 people had filled in forms and applied for pension in the past few years. However, a year-wise break-up of the applicants isn't immediately available.