Assam Government has introduced Rs 250 per month pension scheme to all senior citizens of the state. The Cabinet further launched an old age pension scheme to below poverty level (BPL) and above poverty level (APL) beneficiaries. The scheme was launched by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in a function held at Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra today.
The pensioners would get Rs 250 per month as pension and this will be transferred online. Moreover, to weed out any discrepancy in the list of pensioners, the preliminary list of selected beneficiaries would be displayed in the Gaon Panchayat offices and would be discussed in the gaon sabhas. Further, names of beneficiaries for entry in the list would be reopened in every six months.
Speaking to InsideNe, 66-year-old Rebecca Dutta who hails from Tinsukia district said that the meagre amount of Rs 250 would not help her in any way rather it would add to her owes. She explained that though the amount would be transferred, in case of any irregularity, she would have to travel all the way to Guwahati spending around Rs.1000, which is equal to four months of the pension amount.
On the other hand, septuagenarian Praggya Bora of Guwahati said that with Rs 250, it is difficult to meet the expenses of a day. She questioned what to do for the rest of the month?