AP to distribute pensions under NTR Bharosa scheme from Jan 5

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh government will distribute social security pensions under 'NTR Bharosa Scheme' to various categories of beneficiaries through post offices from January 5 to 12, state Rural Development Minister K Mrinalini said here on Saturday.

"A sum of Rs 577 crore has been released for the pensions to 40,52,357 old age, widow, physically-challenged, toddy tappers and weavers across the state," the minister told reporters.

The government, she said, has decided to remove private persons acting as customer service providers on behalf of ICICI Bank, Axis Bank and Corporation Bank, and the services provided by these banks have now been brought under the Department of Posts.

"We have put in place an Aadhar-enabled payment system to validate the beneficiaries' identity. The Department of Posts made elaborate arrangements for distribution of pensions at every gram panchayat," Mrinalini said.

She said that pension to 42,000 beneficiaries, to whom disbursement has been stopped due to wrong recording of their age in Aadhar and ration cards, has now been restored.