Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 11, 2009:
For the first time in Imphal West District, the benefits of the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme were distributed among the beneficiaries of Mayang Imphal Assembly Constituency today.
After changing the earlier pension scheme of providing some monthly pension amount to aged citizens of the country as Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension by the UPA Government at the Centre, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh formally launched it nationwide on November 19, 2007. Under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme, the aged citizens would be entitled to a monthly pension amount of Rs 200.In the selection of the beneficiaries under new the scheme in the State, in all 271 aged citizens have been included from Mayang Imphal Assembly Constituency.
The pension amount for 14 months were presented to these 271 beneficiaries during a function held at the residence of local MLA Dr Ratankumar today.
Speaking at the occasion, Dr Ratankumar informed that out of 700 names recommended from Mayang Imphal Assembly Constituency, only 271 have been selected as beneficiaries under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme.
He also informed that a corpus fund would be set up with a little donation from each of the 721 beneficiaries.
The amount would be kept in the bank as fixed deposit and the interest accrued from it would be utilised for payment of pension to other aged citizens who have not received Old Age Pension under the Amutombi Iboyaima Old Age Pension Scheme.
The MLA said that the Government of India has taken up steps to institute another pension scheme for the benefit of widows and physically challenged persons.