Elderly can draw assistance through banks or anganwadi centres

: Chief Minister N Rangasamy today announced that elderly people covered under old age pension scheme can continue to draw the assistance either through banks or get it through anganwadi centres.
He stated this while winding up the debate on demands for grants to various departments.
The CM faced vociferous pleas from all legislators from both the ruling and opposition when he was presenting replies to member's views on various subjects that the old age pension be disbursed through anganwadi centres.
The legislators in a joint plea said the elderly face difficulty in going to banks and hence the amount should be disbursed through anganwadi centres.

Speaker V Sabapathy also said there was justification in the plea, made for some months, for payment of pension through anganwadi centres.
Chief Minister conceded the plea and said government was leaving the option to the beneficiaries.

He also announced that police personnel would be given an an increased washing allowance of Rs 600 a month instead of Rs 60 they were now getting. A ration allowance of Rs 1000 would also be paid to them every month, he added.
The government owned AFT mill would be earmarked Rs 30 crore to enable it disburse gratuity and other retirement benefits to workers and staff who had taken VRS, he said.

The government would introduce cashless insurance scheme for the poor patients to enable them get treatment in speciality hospitals, he said, adding the highlights of the scheme operated in neighbouring Tamil Nadu would be adopted in Puducherry.