Over 800 applicants, comprising physically challenged people, widows and elderly, seeking pension under the social welfare department in 2023 have been given a cold shoulder by the Chandigarh administration.

According to the audit report of the social welfare department released in August this year, a decision on applications by 823 candidates – all hailing from financially deprived groups – has been pending, despite being eligible as per rules. Of these, 565 cases were of pension to disabled persons, 121 were of pension to widows and 137 cases were of old age pensions, as on March 2023.

As per norms, the applications should be disposed of within 30 days.

The audit report also observed that the social eelfare department’s director office returned the applications of rejected cases to Sampark Centers with objections.

However, objections were not being complied promptly by the Sampark Centres and many application remained pending up to 12 months, the report mentioned.

Besides, the director had not issued the guidelines containing the scheduled period to Sampark Centres to collect the documents from the beneficiaries to remove the objections raised by the director’s office.

The Chandigarh Administration Pension for Disabled Persons Rules, 1999, provides the social security by way of grant of financial assistance to disabled people having 40 per cent or above disability.

Further, widows in the age group of 18-60 years who are not capable of doing any kind of remuneration work are eligible to apply under Chandigarh Administration Pension to Widow and Destitute Women Rules, 1990, while the Chandigarh Administration Old Age Pension Rules, 1990, provides aid to elderly people who are aged above 65 years in the case of men and 60 in case of women.

“During test check of record of Director, Social Welfare, U.T, Chandigarh for the period 2021-22 to 2022-23, it was noticed that the Director, Social Welfare received 3,617 applications for giving pension to disabled persons, widow pensioners and old age pensions under the above said rules during 2022-23. However, 2,794 applications were processed as on 31.03.2023 and 823 number of applications were pending as on 31.03.2023,” the audit observed.

“It deprives the beneficiaries to get the benefits specified in various pension rules during delayed period. It also forfeits the purpose, which intended under Pension rules. Efforts should be made to get the timely clearance of pension cases under pension rules,” the audit observed.

On being pointed out by the audit, the department replied that in some cases necessary documents were not attached and such cases were sent back to Sampark Centres and a message/sms was also sent to the registered mobile number of the beneficiary who should do the needful.

But audit report didn’t find the reply tenable.

“The reply of the department is not tenable as Director, Social Welfare, had not issued guidelines to Sampark Centres for getting clearance of objections within particular scheduled time,” the report specified.