Number of beneficiaries under the state pension scheme has doubled in a span of two years in Jharkhand.

Speaking to The Telegraph, the JMM leader and women, child development and social security minister, Joba Majhi, termed it as a historic achievement.

“This has happened for the first time since the inception of Jharkhand (after it was carved out of erstwhile Bihar in 2000) and can be termed historic. Based on the assessment done by the department, some of the important factors responsible for this increase in number of beneficiaries is the launch of the month-long Apke Adhikar, Apki Sarkar, Apke Dwar (government at your doorstep) in a campaign mode across the state along with launch of universal pension scheme and the month-long disability certificate campaign,” said Majhi, the lone woman cabinet minister in Jharkhand.

The number of beneficiaries under the state pension scheme increased from 6,60,871 to 14,34,314 in two years between December 31, 2019 and April 28, 2022.

Under the Chief Minister State Old Age Pension Scheme, an increase of 5,77,426 in the number of new beneficiaries has been registered in the same period of two years. In December 2019, 3,45,168 old people were taking benefits of this scheme, while by April 28, 2022, their number increased to 9,22,594. During this, 5,77,426 new beneficiaries were given the benefit of the scheme.

Similarly, the number of beneficiaries of Swami Vivekananda Nishakt Swavalamban Protsahan Yojana (scheme for disabled) has increased by 53.92 per cent in two years. As on December 2019, 87,796 people with disabilities were added, while till April 28, 2022, the numbers turned out to be 1,87,876.

As on December 2019, 1,72,196 beneficiaries were getting the benefit of Mukhyamantri Rajya Nirashrit Mahila Samman Pension Yojana (scheme for destitute women), which increased to 2,57,434 by April 28, 2022. Under the scheme, 85,238 new deserving beneficiaries were added.

Similarly, 52,336 beneficiaries were availing the benefit of the Mukhyamantri Rajya Aadim Janjaati Pension Yojana (scheme for Primitive Tribe Group) till December 2019 and the figure rose to 62,161. A total of 9,825 new beneficiaries were covered by the scheme.

From December 2019 to April 2022, 874 new beneficiaries were added to the Chief Minister State Pension Scheme for People suffering from HIV/AIDS, increasing their number from 3,375 to 4,249.

Through the Aapke Adhikar, Aapki Sarkar, Aapke Dwar campaign, 2,89,903 applications under the Chief Minister State Old Age Pension Scheme; 64,986 under the Mukhyamantri Rajya Nirashrit Mahila Pension Scheme, 18,782 of the Divyang Pension scheme, 135 under the Chief Minister’s State Pension Scheme for those suffering from HIV/AIDS and 4,057 applications for the Mukhymantri Rajya Aadim Janjaati Pension Scheme were executed.

While, between November 2021 till April 2022 a total of 2,90, 837 applications of Old Age Pension, 71,506 of Widow Pension, 25,003 of Divyang pension, 392 of Chief Minister’s Pension for those suffering from HIV/AIDS and 4,057 pensioners of Mukhymantri Rajya Aadim Janjaati Pension Scheme have been approved and entered on the NSAP-PPS portal.

About 2.15 lakh eligible people with disability certificates are being provided with pension under the State and National Social Assistance Pension Scheme.

According to an estimate, about 2.75 lakh people with disabilities of the state do not have certificates of proof. To help solve this issue, a special drive was started from March this year and with the help of health camps as well as through the Swavalamban portal, programmes are being run to generate UDID cards for eligible disabled people.