VELLORE: Revenue officials have been asked to constitute a committee to streamline the disbursement of old age pension (OAP) and issue orders for stopping the benefit to the ineligible beneficiaries.
Necessary instructions were issued by the Collector R Nanthagopal at a review meeting that was convened on Saturday in which officials attached to all departments, local body representatives and MLAs participated. School Education Minister K C Veeramani, who was present on the occasion, also reviewed the performance of various departments.
To queries made by the MLAs regarding the suspension of the OAP to many beneficiaries, the district revenue officer K Balaraman informed that payment of the OAP to beneficiaries would be resumed after allotment of funds from the State. He said freebies such as mixies, grinders and fans would be given to beneficiaries in areas not covered so far as and when the orders were received from the government. A total of 48,518 students of 6th standard had been given community certificates. Pattas had been issued to 14,697 beneficiaries under the special fast track patta scheme, he added.
Joint Director of Animal Husbandry G Kamalanathan said that proposals would be sent to government to fill up vacancies for the posts of veterinary assistant surgeons and other posts in the veterinary hospitals and dispensaries and for the establishment of new veterinary dispensaries.The officials attached to Aavin (Vellore and Tiruvannamalai Districts Cooperative Milk Producers’ Union) said steps would be taken to push Aavin-Vellore to the first place. Out of the 2.85 lakh litre of milk procured by the milk producers in Vellore and Tiruvannamalai districts daily, two lakh litres were sent to Chennai while the remaining 85,000 litres were sold in region.
The officials from the Department of Cooperatives stated that 93 per cent of the cooperative loans including crop loans, loans to women’s self-help groups and jewel loans given to beneficiaries in Vellore district had been recovered.
They pointed out that the district stood first in the State in the disbursement of cooperative loans to the differently-abled. Minister Veeramani directed Vellore Commissioner Janaki and other officials concerned to expedite the work on the underground sewage scheme, expansion of the new bus-stand, construction of flyovers and overbridges and drinking water schemes.