PRAYAGRAJ, May 13 -- More than 72,000 elderly and destitute women in Prayagraj are receiving financial assistance under the Old Age Pension Scheme, according to district social welfare officials. Ram Shankar Patel, district social welfare officer, said financial aid worth Rs.86.40 crore has been disbursed to women beneficiaries till the last payout on April 31, 2026. He said around 1.67 lakh elderly citizens across the district are enrolled under the scheme. The total disbursement under the scheme in Prayagraj has reached about Rs.196.80 crore this year. During the 2025-26 financial year, Patel said 1,419 new beneficiaries were added under the scheme. Under the UP Old Age Pension Scheme, eligible residents aged 60 years and above receive a monthly pension of Rs.1,000, paid as Rs.3,000 every quarter through direct benefit transfer (DBT). Applicants must be permanent residents of Uttar Pradesh and should not be beneficiaries of any other government pension scheme. Annual household income should not exceed Rs.46,080 in rural areas and Rs.56,460 in urban areas....