Manipur bags 3rd rank for Direct Benefit Transfer

Pothashang News Service: Imphal, September 11, 2018: Ministry of rural development has awarded Manipur social welfare department which secured 3^rd rank for its efforts and contribution in implementing 100 percent Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) under National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) through PFMS.

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

Secretary, social welfare, Jacintha Lazarus received the award on behalf of the department. She informed that as per the nationwide ranking among the states, Manipur stood at 8th and in North East, the 2nd state for 100% DBT for release of 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 55, 247 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 to ensure the implementation takes up massive exercise to stop pension for duplicate pensioners based on same account, Aadhaar and physical verification through which more than 13000 fake beneficiaries were identified and deleted, 100% Bank accounts, updating Aadhaar consent after collecting from beneficiaries, reconciliation and clearance of old payments to pensioners, with migration of DBT regime, timely payment can be monitored, she added.

Jacintha said apart from the 100% 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 Rupay card to those beneficiaries who don’t have either Ru-Pay card or ATM card so that pensioners can receive the fund easily.

Social welfare minister, Nemcha Kipgen extends congratulations to all the stakeholders and expressed profound gratitude on this 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 on Ryesday from the. For Northeastern State and Himalayas States category, Chandel district administration was given the Best Performance in Effective Implementation of Extended Gram Swaraj Abhiyan and for Hilly areas category, rural development and public relations department received the Best SIRD (state institute of rural development) for Both Training and Number of Participants.

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, organizations, and individuals.