UP Govt Disburses Pension to Over 29 Lakh Destitute Women Ahead of Diwali

GG News Bureau
Lucknow, 30th Oct. In a pre-Diwali relief initiative, over 29 lakh destitute women in Uttar Pradesh have received the third installment of their pensions under the state’s Nirashrit Mahila Pension Yojana, the government announced Thursday. The early release, directed by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, aims to ensure financial support for impoverished women to celebrate Diwali and Chhath with dignity.

According to a state government press release, the pension program provides Rs 1,000 monthly to widows aged 18 and above, whose annual family income is under Rs 2 lakh. Recipients must not be enrolled in any other state or central pension scheme, making it a crucial support for women without other means of assistance.

Chief Minister Adityanath emphasized the importance of this timely aid, instructing officials to ensure every eligible woman receives benefits promptly. He reinforced the government’s goal of “lighting every home” during Diwali, particularly those of the state’s most vulnerable.

The 2024-25 fiscal year has seen pension distribution under this scheme in three installments, with Rs 90,176.91 lakh allocated to 29.03 lakh beneficiaries in the latest round. The first two installments saw Rs 78,838.54 lakh and Rs 91,517.75 lakh disbursed to 26.12 lakh and 28.47 lakh beneficiaries, respectively.

This year, the program introduced an Aadhaar-based Payment System and Public Financial Management System (PFMS), streamlining direct transfers to beneficiaries’ bank accounts, enhancing transparency, and ensuring timely payments.