Smart cards to benefit over 48,000

VELLORE: The preparatory work for the disbursement of pension assistance by the State with the help of biometric smart cards began in 121 villages across the district, on Monday. This will benefit 48,088 persons out of the three lakh who receive monthly pension in Vellore.Bank representatives will go to beneficiaries and help them withdraw money from their accounts using the smart card and a special handheld device. Applications are being collected to enable them to open accounts with the nearest bank, following which they will receive the smart cards. 22 villages with 11,256 beneficiaries have been selected in Tirupattur taluk, followed by 20 villages with 8,699 beneficiaries in Vellore taluk, 17 villages and 8,401 beneficiaries in Arakkonam, 12 villages and 5,207 and 4,591 beneficiaries each in Katpadi and Vaniyambadi, 11 villages with 3,849 in Wallajah, 10 villages with 2,807 and 1,550 beneficiaries each in Arcot and Gudiyattam, and 7 villages and 1,731 beneficiaries in Ambur.