61,558 widows being granted social security pension, says CM

Shimla, Mar 8 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today said his government had sanctioned social security pension to 61,558 widows, taking the total number of social security pensioners in the state to 2,12,250.

Addressing a state level function organised to mark the International Women's Day here, he said 25,000 more eligible people would be added to the list during the next financial year.

Mr Singh said his government would open retail outlets in every district to market the products of the Self Help Groups (SHG) to make them economically self-reliant.

Himachal Pradesh had over 35,000 Women Self Help Groups out of which over 17,000 were operating under the guidance of the aanganwari workers with a membership of over two lakh, he said.

He said the SHGs run by the women had made record saving of Rs.

24 crore, which were being utilised for income generation through internal loaning that had revolutionised the women empowerment amongst the women organisations.

The state was committed to rehabilitate the mentally, physically, visually challenged, special children, deaf and dumb by initiating effective steps to help them get educated, develop skills and start earning through employment and self employment ventures, he said.

The Chief Minister said his government had directed the authorities to ensure that the orphaned and other deserving children staying in the Bal and Balika Ashrams were provided education to the university level.

Expressing concern over widespread foeticide, which was causing imbalance in the sex ratio, he said the Himachal Government had already banned pre natal tests and strict vigil was being kept over the clinics suspected of carrying out these tests.

UNI