There is almost an equal number of pensioners drawing a pension from state governments. Government pensions include family pensions. More than one lakh persons draw pension from banks, insurance companies and public sector undertakings. In the mid 1980s a Supreme Court decision added nearly 10 lakh more pensioners to the already existing ones. In 1985, the Central Government took a policy decision fixing the minimum pension payable at Rs 375 per month.
Pensioners frequently undergo some harassment over pension.
For this, a single-window payment system with simple procedures for pension disbursement involving citizens groups and local bodies to control corruption in its disbursement needs to be ensured. District officers must personally monitor the timely processing of pension claims of all Government servants due to retire in the next three years. Paper work should commence at least two years before the date of retirement, and special pension camps for disposal of pending cases may be organized from time to time. The aim should be to hand over the pension papers to the retiring functionary on the date of superannuation. For the large majority of the elderly who lack pensions, assets or savings, the single most important form of public assistance available is the Old Age Pension Scheme.