The interim payment covers estimated DR arrears for the period from April 1, 2008, to December 31, 2019. The move is aimed at providing relief while the government completes verification of historical pension records.
Why only 50% is being released
The state said the full payment has been delayed because verified records of past pension disbursements are not readily available with banks. As an interim measure, it has decided to release half of the estimated arrears so that pensioners do not have to wait for the verification process to be completed.
A senior state government official said the decision was taken to provide immediate relief while banks validate the remaining records needed to calculate the final arrears.
How the arrears will be calculatedThe estimated arrears will be worked out using:
- Data available with the Accountant General, West Bengal
- DR rates notified by the Finance Department during the ROPA 2009 period
- The applicable All India Consumer Price Index (AICPI)-linked formula
The government said the balance DR arrears will be calculated after banks submit verified historical pension payment records.
New portal for pension verification
To speed up the process, the state has launched a Bank Pension Management Portal under the West Bengal Integrated Financial Management System (WBiFMS).
Banks have been directed to verify and update pensioners’ records on the portal and credit the admissible interim amount directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts. They have also been asked to provide validated pension disbursement details for the 2008-2019 period so that the remaining DR arrears can be released.
The Finance Department said the payment mechanism for the remaining 50% of the DR arrears will be announced separately once the verification exercise is completed.
-With PTI inputsALSO READ | West Bengal announces 20% DA hike for state employees in first BJP Budget
