Chandigarh, March 3 Punjab Social Security Minister Baljit Kaur said on Tuesday that her department had recovered a sum of ₹170 crore, which was being credited into the accounts of deceased beneficiaries under the old age scheme.
Addressing the media here, Kaur said that over 23.62 lakh eligible elderly beneficiaries under the old age pension scheme are receiving ₹1,500 per month in a transparent manner.
She said that her department had closed the accounts of deceased beneficiaries under this scheme.
"We have recovered a sum of ₹170 crore that was going into the accounts of deceased beneficiaries," she said, adding that regular monitoring of the scheme is being undertaken.
Sharing details of the work done by the Social Security, Women and Child Development, Social Justice, Empowerment, and Minorities departments in the last four years, the minister said that a sum of ₹3,806 crore was released under the old age pension scheme during 2025-26.
The minister also said that two old age homes have been set up in Tapa and Mansa at an outlay of ₹17.33 crore.
She further said that her department also disbursed ₹11.43 crore in grants to social organizations that were running 'ashrams' for the elderly in the state.
She said that the state government has been providing free bus service to women and that a sum of ₹2,042 crore has been spent in this regard.
Besides, five hostels for working women are being set up in three districts – three in Mohali and one each in Amritsar and Jalandhar. There will also be a creche facility for the children of women in these hostels, she said.
These hostels, which will come up with an expenditure of ₹150 crore, will be ready this year, she further said.
She said that her department recruited 4,377 anganwadi workers and helpers in 2023.
Currently, the recruitment of 6,110 more anganwadi workers and helpers is underway, she said.
The minister further said that around 1,000 new anganwadi centres have been set up in the state, and 350 anganwadi centres have been renovated.
The minister also stated that under the Jeewanjyot project, her department rescued many children involved in begging.
She also said that in the past four years, her department took many steps to prevent child marriages in the state and successfully prevented around 150 child marriages cases.
