18 Months, 5.2 Lakh still waiting: Will Telangana’s Pension Promise Ever Be Fulfilled?
Despite promising swift action on social pensions within the first 100 days of governance, the Telangana Congress government has yet to fulfill its commitment to approve and disburse pensions to new applicants.
Hyderabad: Despite promising swift action on social pensions within the first 100 days of governance, the Telangana Congress government has yet to fulfill its commitment to approve and disburse pensions to new applicants. It’s been nearly 18 months, and around 5.2 lakh eligible individuals continue to wait without relief.
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Congress Promised, But Delayed
Soon after coming to power in January 2024, the government held Gram Sabhas under the “Praja Palana” program to collect applications for new Aasara pensions. Online applications followed, raising public hope that the new administration would act as per its manifesto. An estimated 25 lakh applications were submitted, and officials verified about 5.2 lakh as eligible. Yet, none have received pension benefits so far.
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Verification Underway, But No Payouts
Though the government claimed to have initiated the process to finalize the list of eligible beneficiaries, delays persist. The Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) was instructed to coordinate the process, involving village secretaries and municipal bill collectors in conducting fresh surveys. Families of deceased pensioners were also asked to provide documentation if the spouse qualifies for benefits. Still, no disbursements have been made.
Nearly 2 Lakh Beneficiaries Removed
While new pensions remain pending, the government has been trimming the list of existing beneficiaries. In July 2024, over 1,800 recovery notices were issued to households with multiple pension recipients. Further, approximately 1.4 lakh people were removed due to reasons such as death or migration. As a result, the number of beneficiaries has dropped from 44.7 lakh to 42.7 lakh, saving the government an estimated ₹150 crore per month.
Congress Yet to Act on Beedi Workers’ Pensions
The government had also pledged to revise the PF cut-off date to 2018 to include more beedi workers in the pension scheme. Despite collecting applications, no concrete steps have been taken. Nearly 50,000 beedi workers across the state await implementation of this promise.
Citizens Frustrated by Repeated Documentation Requests
Applicants are increasingly frustrated, citing repeated requests for Aadhaar cards and bank details, without any confirmation of approval. Many are forced to make frequent visits to banks and revenue offices in hopes of updates. Beneficiaries urge the government to start disbursements at least from next month, especially for those cleared by officials.
