The Delhi state government on October 10, 2023, announced the launch of the ‘Dharohar App’ for its pensioners.

The Dharohar App has been designed specifically for the beneficiaries of pension under the various schemes of the social welfare department of the Delhi state government and is an initiative to connect with the people of Delhi, said Delhi’s social welfare minister Rajkumar Anand.

The launch of the app is expected to be of immense help to the pensioners and the beneficiaries, as now they can get pension details on one platform and not necessarily have to make rounds to the pension office or the banks for various inquiries related to pension, including life certificate submission.

What Would It Offer?

The pensioners will not have to make visits to the different offices to get the pension or to get information about the same. The app will provide all information related to a pension at one place, whether it is about registering for pension or submitting a life certificate. According to reports, the beneficiaries will be able to register their pension-related complaints on the app, which would reduce the time of complaint redressal.

To register on the Dharohar App, the pensioner has to fill in their name, mobile number, Aadhaar number, and a photograph. The beneficiaries can get pension information on the app of the last three months.

One can also get the account number rectified (if it is wrongly mentioned) or submit details of the district right on the app. They need not have to physically visit the office.

The following are the list of financial assistance schemes of the social welfare department of Delhi, which will now be accessible to pensioners on the app.

Scheme Of Old Age Assistance: This scheme is for persons aged above 60 years and who are residents of the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi for a minimum of five years preceding the application date of availing the scheme benefit. The eligibility conditions are that the family income should not be more than Rs 1 lakh per annum from all sources. The person should not be receiving any financial assistance or pension from the central government, state government, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) or any other source.

The applicant should have an account with the bank or post office to facilitate direct credit of the benefit amount. The account should be ‘singly-operated’, and the person should have an Aadhaar or UIDAI if the Aadhaar number has not yet been received.

Financial Assistance To Persons With Special Needs, 2009: This scheme provides financial assistance to people with blindness, low vision, hearing impairment, locomotor disability, mental illness, autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, and those previously afflicted with leprosy, according to the social welfare website. There is no age limit to get financial support under the scheme. The other eligibility criteria are the same as mentioned in the ‘Scheme for old age assistance’, except that the applicant’s disability should not be less than 40 per cent, and the disability certificate should be issued by the medical board of the government hospital. Also, the condition of any other financial assistance is not applicable here.

Financial Assistance To Leprosy Patients: The scheme offers Rs 1,800 per month to leprosy patients residing in the NCT of Delhi before 1993.

Delhi Family Benefit Scheme: In case of the death of a person who was the breadwinner of the family, there is a facility of a single-time financial assistance. The condition is that the age of the deceased should be between 18 years and 60 years. The family income should be up to Rs 1 lakh, the applicant should be residing in the NCT of Delhi for at least five years, have Aadhaar or UIDAI, and have a singly operated account for receiving the payment electronically.