Our Reporter
Dimapur, May 7 (EMN): Pensions of retired government employees will now be deposited directly to their respective bank accounts, effective from the month of April and every pensioner will have to open a State Bank of India (SBI) account to withdraw the same.
Speaking to Eastern Mirror, Khekaho Aye, senior treasury officer of Dimapur, informed that the pension amount would be transferred to their respective SBI account.
When queried about those pensioners who do not have an SBI bank account, he informed that they were in discussion with the SBI authorities for consideration and to make an alternative arrangement for them.
Aye informed that according to the SBI system, those individuals whose names do not match with the pension book along with their document would not be able to open a bank account. He added that unless the RBI accepts such problems, the SBI cannot decide on its own.
He informed that they were also in discussion with UCO and Baroda banks since next to SBI, they are the maximum pension service providers. He said that they have accepted to consider the differences in surname with affidavit attached to it.
Aye also added that it is not because of Covid-19 pandemic the SBI has decided to go cashless but since December, they have been disseminating the information that from April they would go cashless.
He added that they are going to have a meeting with the SBI authority for an emergency arrangement to take care of those who are unable to get salaries under this new guideline.
He said that right now they are trying to find out the immediate alternative to take care of the situation but it would be mandatory to open a bank account.
While speaking to one of the employees at the Treasury and Accounts office, he informed that approximately around 75% of the pensioners have an SBI account.
