THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : The regulatory measures at various treasuries and banks to prevent cramming proved effective and scores of people being able to collect their salaries and pensions on 1st April itself.
23,901 bills were passed on Wednesday, the first pay day. 2,15,930 people received their salaries in remittances that totaled to Rs 934.06 crore. The takers were employees from various departments including Health, Family Welfare and Police.
Pensions were paid from 223 treasures around the State to 27,267 people. Timelines were allotted to disbursements based on the last few digits of account numbers. The method proved effective to prevent packed-out situation normally witnessed at treasury premises and banks on payment day.
The Covid-related safety guidelines issued by authorities were adhered fairly well across treasuries and banks, a fact affirmed by the Treasury Director and Bankers Association Council Convener who said they did not hear a single instance of overcrowding at any of the centres.
Pensions too were paid by time-slots based on last digits of the beneficiaries’ account numbers. Sanitizers were provided to wash hands and chairs to keep social distances at all payment premises. The govt meanwhile urged people to collect their pension in assigned time-slots only and to avoid making it to the Cenres if there be no urgency for it.
Banks transactions are now limited to pension remittances alone. Required number of staff are present at branches for the purpose. In Kottayam police intercepted SBI’s call asking all of its staff at branches in the district to report for work. The District Police Chief later asked Station House Officers to issue notices to branches in their respective jurisdiction.
