Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
LATEST NEWS UPDATES | Plans to raise pension for disabled, widow, sr citizens: Govt

Plans to raise pension for disabled, widow, sr citizens: Govt

Share this article Share this article
published Published on Mar 19, 2013   modified Modified on Mar 19, 2013
-PTI

Government plans to increase pension for disabled, widow and senior citizens besides making changes in the eligibility criteria for pension payment, Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said today.

The current pension of Rs 300 per month for widows and physically handicapped, Rs 200 for senior citizen and Rs 500 to persons above 80 years "is inadequate. It has to be increased," he informed Rajya Sabha during Question Hour.

"We are considering (raising pensions). In next 2-3 months action will be taken," he said.

Besides the Central grant, states like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Delhi and Haryana give pension from their budget. But in most states "there is no matching contribution," he said.

The definition of physically handicapped for availing pension carries a limit, he said adding the definition should be changed to provide for pension to persons with 40 per cent disability instead of current criteria of 80 per cent.

"I am of the view that pension should be dignified," he said. "We are committed to bring changes in both pension and definition."

Ramesh said Mihir Shah Committee has suggested drastic changes in pension plans by universalising pension by including an exclusion criteria rather than current norm of confining it to BPL people only.

Besides, it has suggested lowering age of widow pensioners from 40 years to 18 years, redefining disability of 40 per cent for providing pension to physically handicapped and linking pension to inflation index.

If implemented, the number of beneficiaries getting pension would increase from 2.60 crore to over 9 crore. Currently, Rs 9,500 crore is spent on providing pension to 2.6 crore beneficiaries, he said.

The Economic Times, 18 March, 2013, http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/personal-finance/savings-centre/savings-news/plans-to-raise-pension-for-disabled-widow-sr-citizens-govt/articleshow/19033349.cms


Related Articles

 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Video Archives

Archives

share on Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Feedback
Read Later

Contact Form

Please enter security code
      Close