CM strongly refutes the Opposition’s allegations regarding the cutting of old-age pensions, terms the claims as completely false and politically motivated
Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh-
During the ongoing Budget Session of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha here today, CM Nayab Singh Saini strongly refuted the Opposition’s allegations regarding the cutting of old-age pensions, terming the claims as completely false and politically motivated. He said that over the past few days, Opposition leaders have been spreading lies and confusion on the sensitive issue of elderly pensions in an attempt to gain cheap political mileage. They have been alleging that the government has stopped pensions and snatched away the rights of senior citizens, said the Chief Minister.
He categorically stated that these allegations are baseless. Our government is not working to snatch anyone’s pension. On the contrary, we are committed to ensuring that every eligible person receives his or her rightful benefit, asserted Sh. Nayab Singh Saini.
Questioning the Opposition’s intent, he said, has spreading lies become your only agenda? Can you not see that we have introduced a transparent system and stopped the loot that prevailed during your tenure? He informed the House that in nearly 1.30 lakh cases, certain discrepancies related to age, income and other criteria were found. However, these pensions have not been discontinued. Instead, the discrepancies are being verified and examined to ensure that only eligible beneficiaries receive the pension.
Recalling historical facts, the Chief Minister said that in 1992, the Congress government had fixed an annual income limit of Rs. 10,000, and at that time the pension amount was merely Rs. 100. From 1992 to 2009, during the tenures of Congress and INLD governments, neither was the income limit removed nor was it meaningfully increased.
In contrast, the Chief Minister said, the present government in 2023 increased the income limit from Rs. 2 lakh to Rs. 3 lakh and expanded the number of beneficiaries to 17.98 lakh. Today, more than 20 lakh elderly citizens are receiving pensions in Haryana. If pensions had been cut, how would this number have increased? Who will answer this? Asked the Chief Minister.
Speaking about the pension amount, the Chief Minister stated that during the INLD regime, the pension was Rs. 200, and during the long Congress tenure, it saw an increase of only Rs. 700. In comparison, during the 11 years of the present government, the pension has been increased from Rs. 1,000 to Rs. 3,200 per month, a historic rise of Rs. 2,200, the highest ever increase. This reflects our government’s respect for senior citizens. Yet the Opposition continues to spread lies and play with their emotions, he remarked.
The Chief Minister further shared that during the Congress regime, more than 50,000 ineligible persons were reportedly granted pensions. In 2011, an old-age pension scam came to light in which pensions were issued to individuals who were either ineligible or had already passed away.
Referring to a media report published on July 4, 2011, he said at that time, the government had decided to transfer pensions directly into bank accounts. In 16 districts, 15,98,126 persons were receiving social security pensions. However, when beneficiaries were asked to open bank accounts, only 11,44,098 accounts were opened, indicating that nearly 5 lakh pensions were allegedly being disbursed to fake beneficiaries. This figure was only for 16 districts; considering all 21 districts at that time, the number would have been even higher.