Shimla :Social security pension to the old,widows,handicapped and leprosy patients will now be paid by bio-metric system in entire Himachal Pradesh.
A spokesman of the state government said the present social security pension of Rs 330 per month was currently being distributed by money order.
The bio-metric pension system has so far been tried only in Una district on an experimental basis.
Every elegible pensioner will be issued a smart card which would have the photograph,biodata and finger impression of the beneficiary,besides opening of a savings account in the local bank.
The bank would appoint a customer service provider at a fixed service delivery point in a group of villages according to number of pensioners in those villages,who would distribute the pension on a fixed date.
Those unable to walk will receive their pension at home.In case it isn’t distributed on a fixed date the money would be deposited in the bank account of the concerned person.
The pesnion would be given through Punjab National Bank in eight district and through UCO bank in the remaining four districts.
In a 20 year career published widely. He has worked for the BBC, AFP, The Statesman, IANS and the Business Standard . Known for his hard hitting writing and occasional off-beat stories. He lives in Shimla.
