# Telangana pension scheme fails many, Narkuda study shows 2026-08-10T23:58:55+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet Telangana raised social security allocation from Rs 22,085 crore in 2024-25 to Rs 23,158 crore in 2025-26, but an opinion piece in Telangana Today argues that budget numbers hide failures. Using Narkuda Gram Panchayat as a case study, the authors say many eligible elderly and disabled persons do not receive their Rs 2,160 monthly pension under the Cheyutha (earlier Aasara) scheme on time. The state has paid about Rs 4,700 crore to nearly 37 lakh people between October 2018 and June 2021. Narkuda has 3,057 residents, with over a third from Scheduled Castes. The piece identifies barriers: low awareness, digital applications that older people cannot navigate without help, and outdated surveys that exclude informal workers. Even enrolled beneficiaries face delays due to administrative glitches. The authors argue that coverage figures can be misleading. ## Coverage - telanganatoday.com Tags: Aasara pension, Cheyutha, last-mile delivery, Narkuda, social security, Telangana Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/telangana-pension-scheme-fails-many-narkuda-study-shows/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/telangana-pension-scheme-fails-many-narkuda-study-shows/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.