Pension scheme: Ration card, passport can be used for age verification

Times News NetworkKanpur: The government has introduced a new arrangement for ageverification of elderly persons applying for old-age pension in urbanareas, providing relief to those who do not possess High Schoolcertificates or Family Register records. Under the revised system,applicants will now be able to establish their age through alternativedocuments, including Ration card and Voter ID card.District Magistrate Jitendra Pratap Singh said that according to an earliergovernment order, the date of birth mentioned on Aadhaar card is nottreated as a valid proof of age for sanction of old-age pension. Due tothis provision, a large number of eligible elderly persons in urban areaswere facing difficulties as they neither possessed High School certificatesnor had entries in family registers.Taking such cases into consideration, the government has now approvedalternative documents for age verification in urban areas. Applicants willbe able to verify their age on the basis of Ration Card, Voter ID card,Driving Licence, Passport or PAN card.The District Magistrate said that the applicant will have to submit aself-declaration in the prescribed format stating that he or she does notpossess a High School educational certificate and that Family Registerfacility is not available in the concerned urban area.He further clarified that the new arrangement will be applicable only inurban areas, while the earlier system for age verification will continue inrural areas.