More than Rs 352 crore released for old age pension, financial security of the elderly strengthened – Dr. Baljeet Kaur

Old Age Pension Scheme: Giving information today, Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljeet Kaur said that an amount of more than Rs 352 crore has been released under the Old Age Pension Scheme for the month of March under the financial year 2026-27. He said that the Punjab Government is making continuous efforts to ensure the well-being and financial assistance of the elderly.

Budget provision of Rs 4000 crore

Giving further information, the Minister said that the Punjab Government is providing old age pension to 23,51,338 elderly beneficiaries every month. He said that a budget provision of Rs 4000 crore has been made under this scheme so that the eligible beneficiaries continue to get financial assistance on time.

Respect and protection for the elderly

The Cabinet Minister said that for many elderly people, this pension is proving to be an important financial help in life, due to which they are living a self-reliant life while meeting their daily needs. He said that this scheme reflects the commitment of the government to provide respect and protection to the elderly.

Women aged 58 or older

Dr. Baljeet Kaur said that men aged 65 years or above and women aged 58 years or above, whose annual income does not exceed Rs 60,000, can avail the benefits of this scheme. He also informed that applicants who have up to 2.5 acres of irrigated (canal/chahi) land, or up to 5 acres of rainfed land, or up to 5 acres of land in a water-logged area (including joint land of husband and wife) are also eligible for this scheme.

Elderly people should not be deprived of benefits

The Cabinet Minister directed all the District Social Security Officers and concerned officers to ensure timely distribution of pension and prompt disposal of pending applications. He also said that regular monitoring and field level checks should be done so that no eligible elderly person is deprived of benefits and the amount reaches the beneficiaries in a transparent manner.

Elder respect, self-reliance and security

He said that the Punjab government under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann considers its elders as an invaluable asset of the society and is continuously working for their welfare and safety. Dr. Baljeet Kaur said that the aim of the government is to ensure that every elderly person in the state can live a life with dignity, self-reliance and security.