Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday released pension payments for April to more than 7.5 lakh beneficiaries through a one-click transfer system. The initiative was launched to make pension distribution faster, easier, and more transparent for people across the state.
According to an official statement, a total amount of Rs 111.82 crore was transferred directly into the bank accounts of 7,56,682 beneficiaries linked to various social welfare schemes run by the state government.
The pensions were distributed under fully state-funded schemes that support elderly people, widows, persons with disabilities, farmers, abandoned women, and other vulnerable groups.
The pension schemes covered in the transfer include old-age pension, widow pension, disability pension, farmer pension, maintenance grant, Teelu Rauteli pension, and dwarf pension schemes.
The programme was held at the Secretariat, where the chief minister addressed officials and beneficiaries. Dhami said the government remains committed to the idea of “Antyodaya,” which focuses on helping the poorest and weakest sections of society.
He said the state government is working continuously to improve the lives of economically and socially weaker people by ensuring that welfare benefits reach them without delay.
The chief minister also said that the government has been organising regular camps to identify eligible beneficiaries and help them complete the necessary formalities for pension schemes.
According to officials, more than 60,000 new beneficiaries are being added to the pension schemes every year.
Chief Minister Dhami directed officials to continue organising multi-purpose welfare camps across the state. These camps are meant to help people apply for pensions and other government schemes more easily.
He also instructed officials to carry out surveys for people who are turning 59 years old every year. The purpose of these surveys is to complete application procedures and paperwork in advance so that eligible citizens can begin receiving old-age pension benefits immediately after turning 60.
The chief minister said such planning would reduce delays and ensure that deserving people receive financial support on time.
Officials said the one-click transfer system is part of the government’s effort to improve transparency and reduce complications in welfare payments.
Under this system, pension amounts are directly transferred into beneficiaries’ bank accounts electronically. This reduces the chances of delays, middlemen, or errors in payment distribution.
Dhami also asked officials to make annual income limits under welfare schemes more practical. He said the current criteria should be reviewed so that more needy people can benefit from social welfare programmes.
The chief minister stressed the need to simplify government systems so that poor and vulnerable people do not face unnecessary difficulties while applying for benefits.
He further directed officials to combine information related to all pension schemes and welfare programmes onto a single platform. According to him, a unified platform would make it easier for citizens to access information and services.
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During the meeting, Dhami encouraged officials to adopt innovative methods in the social welfare department and share successful ideas with other government departments as well.
He said welfare schemes should continue improving according to the needs of the people.
The chief minister also suggested creating a call centre system to maintain communication with elderly citizens and pensioners. Such a system could help senior citizens receive information, support, and assistance more easily.
Officials believe direct communication can help solve problems quickly and ensure that beneficiaries remain informed about their pension payments and welfare services.
Social Welfare Minister Khajan Das also spoke during the programme. He said the department is working under the leadership of the chief minister to ensure that every needy person receives support while maintaining transparency in pension distribution.
He added that the government is trying to make welfare services more efficient and accessible for people living in both urban and rural areas.
Pension schemes are considered important for many families because they provide regular financial support to people who may not have stable income sources.
Old-age pensions help elderly citizens manage daily expenses, while widow and disability pensions support individuals facing social or economic difficulties.
Farmer pensions and maintenance grants also help financially weaker sections meet their basic needs.
Experts say direct bank transfers through digital systems can improve efficiency and reduce corruption in welfare schemes. Electronic transfers also allow beneficiaries to receive money safely without needing to travel repeatedly to government offices.
The Uttarakhand government has been focusing on expanding social welfare coverage in recent years. Officials say increasing the number of beneficiaries each year is part of the effort to provide financial security to more vulnerable families.
The state government also believes that awareness campaigns and welfare camps are important because many eligible citizens may not know about available schemes or how to apply for them.
Authorities have appealed to people to participate in welfare camps and complete necessary documentation to receive benefits without delay.
In simple terms, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami released April pensions worth Rs 111.82 crore to more than 7.5 lakh beneficiaries through a one-click digital transfer system. The government says the initiative will improve transparency, simplify welfare payments, and help economically weaker sections receive financial support more easily.
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