Panchayat Raj Minister today directed that distribution of Asara pensions be done cashless by Dec 31 by opening accounts and giving bank ATM cards to 17.81 lakh pensioners and women groups of self help groups and focus on to provide swiping machines at 8691 village panchayats in the state.
The minister directed to prepare a plan of action to encourage cashless transaction as per government decision. Krishna Rao held a high level review meeting with officials and asked them to take steps to see that Asara pensions are given through cashless transactions by creating awareness among the beneficiaries and workers under employment guarantee scheme. Directing to open up new accounts for every Asara beneficiary by Dec 31 he said that pension payment be done through Iris Method or Bio-metric process.
Minister said that the payment of the pensions be achieved by 100 per cent by January next through creating awareness among people at village level. Since the cashless transactions help avoid irregularities we need to encourage use of ATMs and swiping machines. He directed to hold a meeting with bankers and post offices and see that cashless transactions should be done at every village without a bank and post office facility. (NSS)