Punjab to enhance welfare pension from Rs 250 to Rs 400

Moga, Oct 10 (UNI) Punjab government would enhance the pension of elderly, widows and others from Rs 250 per month to Rs 400 per month, Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development Swarna Ram today said here.

The hike would cost the government Rs 22 crore extra, from Rs 48 crore to Rs 70 crore per month, he said while talking to media persons at Indo Soviet Friendship College of pharmacy where he had come to inaugurate a national seminar on 'Nano-Colloidal Carriers.' In reply to a question, Mr Swarna Ram, who also holds Technical Education ministry, said the state government had earmarked Rs 350 crore for modernisation of the existing ITIs, including new beneficial courses and reviving sick ITIs.

About Rs 89 crore have been earmarked for setting up 20 modern ITIs with latest courses and 750 new instructors have been appointed recently, he said.

In reply to a question, Mr Swarna Ram categorically stated that there was ''absolutely no proposal for privatisation of ITIs or technical educational institutions in the state'' and urged ITIs students ''not to be misled by rumour mongers''.

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