AP Plans Pension for Eligible Handloom Workers Above 50

The Andhra Pradesh government is taking steps to extend NTR Bharosa pensions to eligible handloom workers who have completed 50 years of age. State Handlooms and Textiles Minister S Savitha said officials have been instructed to ensure that genuine beneficiaries receive the welfare support without facing unnecessary difficulties.

The latest move is aimed at providing financial assistance to older workers in the handloom sector. The government wants all eligible beneficiaries to be covered under the scheme and has asked the department machinery to speed up the verification process.

Verification of 16,521 new applications is currently underway. These applications are being checked to determine whether applicants meet the required eligibility conditions before the pension benefit is approved.

The verification process, however, has also brought alleged irregularities to the attention of the department. Two officials were suspended after allegations of illegal collections emerged during the scrutiny of applications. Minister Savitha ordered immediate action against them.

The minister made it clear that beneficiaries should not be forced to pay money for accessing a government welfare scheme. She said the department would take action against officials who attempt to misuse the process or trouble applicants.

During a high level video conference held on Saturday, Savitha reviewed the progress of the pension applications with officials. She instructed them to maintain transparency while checking the applications and ensure that eligible handloom workers receive the benefit without paying any money.

The government is particularly focusing on making the pension process accessible to genuine beneficiaries. Handloom workers often depend on welfare measures for financial support, especially after reaching an advanced age. The proposed pension coverage for eligible workers above 50 is therefore expected to provide additional assistance to the sector.

Officials have been asked to examine the applications carefully and identify eligible beneficiaries without unnecessary delays. At the same time, the minister stressed that verification should not become an opportunity for corruption or unofficial payments.

The suspension of the two officials is being viewed as a warning to others involved in the process. Savitha said government welfare schemes should reach the intended beneficiaries and that any attempt to misuse public funds or demand money from applicants would not be tolerated.

The minister also told officials to make sure that applicants receive clear information about the process. Genuine beneficiaries should not have to depend on intermediaries or make unofficial payments to get their applications processed.

The NTR Bharosa scheme is one of the welfare programmes through which the Andhra Pradesh government provides financial assistance to eligible sections of society. The latest initiative seeks to bring eligible handloom workers aged 50 and above into the pension support system.

With more than 16,000 new applications under verification, the department now faces the task of completing the scrutiny while maintaining transparency. Officials will have to verify the eligibility of applicants and ensure that genuine cases are cleared.

The government has also signalled that complaints involving corruption or irregular collections will be taken seriously. The suspension of the two officials came while the application verification process was still underway, highlighting the department’s focus on monitoring the process.

For handloom workers, the key message from the government is that eligible beneficiaries do not need to pay anyone to receive the pension. Officials have been directed to process applications according to the rules and ensure that welfare benefits reach the intended recipients.

The department is expected to continue reviewing the applications and take further action wherever irregularities are found. The government has reiterated that transparency and proper implementation will remain important as the pension process moves forward.