Steps to expedite the payment of farmers’ pensions and to provide the arrears
The Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board, which operates under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, currently pays monthly pensions of more than Rs. 415 million to 170,950 farmers who have completed 60 years of age. The payments are made through 3,975 post offices.
A large number of farmer pension applications, submitted before 2024 by farmers who had completed 60 years of age, had accumulated awaiting processing. As per the instructions given after the new government took office, all the work needed to pay pensions to those beneficiaries has already been completed.
Furthermore, the Board has begun processing net premiums for contributors who have not paid their premiums properly, or who have paid more than 25% of the required premium amount. All arrangements have been made to pay the farmers’ pension within one month in respect of complete applications received in this manner without deficiencies.
In addition, the payment of arrears of pension to farmers who contributed under the pension scheme, turned 60 on or after 1 January 2014, and became eligible for the farmers’ pension had been temporarily suspended. Giving special attention to the grievances and requests submitted by farmers in this regard, the current government has taken on that responsibility and has now begun the process of paying those pension arrears.
Accordingly, based on the funds provided by the General Treasury, the payment of arrears has also begun and steps have been taken to provide relief to the pensioners.
