Manipur social welfare dept. bags national award for 100 percent DBT implementation

IMPHAL | Sept 11 : Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, today awarded the department of Social Welfare, Government of Manipur for its efforts and contribution in implementing 100 percent Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) under National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) through PFMS.

The department was given 3rd rank in implementation of DBT in NSAP.

The award was handed over by the Union minister of rural development, government of India, Narendra Singh Tomar‎ in the presence of minister of state, rural development, Ram Kripal Yadav at Plenary Hall, Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi.

Receiving the award on behalf of the department, secretary of social welfare, Jacintha Lazarus informed that as per the nationwide ranking among the states, Manipur stood at 8th and in northeast, it is the 2nd state for 100 percent DBT in releasing old age pension. She stated that this will ensure that the funds are released transparently without any corruption and it can be monitored online.

She highlighted that the National Old Age Pension Scheme at present in Manipur has 55247 beneficiaries. The payment of pension benefits by NSAP-PPS through PFMS has ensured the following benefits to the general public namely de-duplication and removal of ghost beneficiaries from list, accurate targeting for new beneficiaries, monthly disbursement can be implemented, pension calculation with arrears, huge saving of time, effort and resources.

In Manipur, the Social Welfare department took up various activities to ensure the implementation which included massive exercise done by the department to stop pensions for duplicate pensioners based on same account, and Aadhaar and physical verification through which more than 13,000 fake beneficiaries were identified and deleted, said Jacintha.

Opening of 100 percent bank accounts, updating Aadhaar consent after collecting from beneficiaries, reconciliation and clearance of old payments to pensioners, with migration of DBT regime and timely payment can be monitored, she added.

She further asserted that apart from the 100 percent DBT, the state government has also ensured Ru-Pay card to be issued to all the old age pensioners for Door Step Delivery of Pension. All bank branches have been instructed to issue Ru-Pay card to those beneficiaries who do not have either Ru-Pay card or ATM card so that pensioners can receive the fund easily.

Social welfare minister, Nemcha Kipgen extended congratulations to all the stakeholders and expressed profound gratitude on the achievement as such accomplishment means welfare for the poor and needy people of the state. She reminded that social welfare department always works for the welfare of the masses and to deliver the benefits to the right beneficiaries.

Altogether, Manipur bagged three awards today from the ministry of rural development. For northeastern state and Himalayan states category, Chandel district administration was given the ‘Best Performance in Effective Implementation of Extended Gram Swaraj Abhiyan’ and for Hilly areas category, RD and PR department received the ‘Best SIRD for Both Training and Number of Participants’.

It may be mentioned that at the national awards function of the ministry of Rural Development, a total of 228 awards were presented under different categories to the states, districts, blocks, organisations and individuals.