The Government has decided to fund the pensioners' associations and NGOs to set up and run the "pensioners' portals" on the Internet as part of the national e-Governance plan (NeGP) being implemented as a mission mode project to cater to the central pensioners.

These portals will provide information about pension and other retirement-related matters and help the pensioners in redressal of their grievances, officials said, describing the new venture as unique, aimed at welfare of the pensioners across the country.

The government has already identified 16 pensioners' associations in various states and sanctioned them Rs 8.67 lakhs to start the portals to help out the pensioners through them, ending the plight they suffered in making trips to Delhi for trivial clarification.

These include Accountant's General Offices Pensioners Association, Hyderabad which has been released the grant of Rs 36,499, All India Retired Railwaymen's Federation, Secunderabad (Rs 57,348), All India Central Govt Pensioners Association, Jalandhar (Rs 46,250), Central Government Pensioner's Welfare Association, Jammu (Rs 57,960), and Indian Ex-Services League, New Delhi (Rs 51,800).

A circular sent out by the Ministry of Personnel on Oct 4 detailing the scheme list out five activities for which the associations will get the recurring grant. The rates at which the grant will be calculated are: Internet connection (Rs 700 per month), Telephone (Rs 600 pm), Stationery (Rs 1500 per month), Water and Electricity (Rs 2000 pm) and annual maintenance Rs 2400.

The rules detailed in the circular also mandate reservation of scheduled castes and tribes in the recruitment to the associations that employ more than 20 persons on a regular basis and are registered societies or cooperative with annual grant of Rs 2 lakhs or more. There is, however, no mention of the OBCs.

The government reserves the right to nominate a representative to such associations and it can also seek refund of the funds not utilised for the purpose for which they are sanctioned. The associations are also required to maintain records of assets and other items of permanent value costing Rs 10,000 and above.

The associations are also permitted to construct building or immovable property wholly or partly out of the grant, the ownership of which will rest with them so long as they utilise it for the purpose for which the grant is sanctioned. If the organisation ceases to exists or if the building is not utilised for the purpose for which the grant is given, the government will take over the ownership.