Social security pensions increased in MP

Bhopal, Jan 2 (UNI) The Madhya Pradesh Government has decided to raise the amount of old age pension and social security pension schemes to Rs 275.

The decison was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan here today.

Briefing mediapersons about cabinet decisions, School Education Minister Narottam Mishra said the decision would benefit about 11.43 lakh people. The increment would be effective with effect from April 1, 2006.

The government was providing Rs 150 as pension at present. The Centre had raised the amount to Rs 200. After adding its share, the government had raised the amount to Rs 275, which would burden the state excequer by Rs 107.05 crore.

Mr Mishra said the cabinet approved providing Rs 3.05 lakh as ex-gratia to the deceased and affected students in the incident in the Adivasi Kanya Ashram in Amarkantak in April 2006.

Students had complained abdominal pain after consuming food.

Three students had died and 20 taken ill in the incident.

The cabinet gave nod for constituting an autonomous body for mid day-meal programme. The body would ensure inter-departmental coordination between concerning departments, would draw and suitably distribute the funds received from Centre and would appoint candidates selected on contract basis at state and district level for management under the programme.

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