The Delhi government will now release the old age pension, widow pension and handicapped pension on line.

The decision was taken in the cabinet meeting presided over by chief minister Sheila Dikshit on Monday.

The departments of social welfare and women & child development under the state government had been facing difficulties in verification of applications received for grant of old age, widow and handicapped pension due to inadequate number of Anganwadi workers. The Anganwadi workers are only part time workers and they are not able to devote full-time for verification. This results in delay in sanctions and repeated visits by the applicants in government offices.

While briefing the media after the cabinet meeting chief minister Sheila Dikshit said keeping in view the hardships and inconvenience being faced by aged, widows and handicapped persons the government decided to modify the process.

The cabinet has decided that the pensions will be released from the month succeeding the month of application by the beneficiaries.  Dikshit ensured that with the implementation of this decision the pensioners would not suffer due to processing delays. She added that the decision is a major step towards ensuring welfare schemes in true spirit.