Rs 573 cr for old age, widow, handicapped pension

Chandigarh, May 1 (UNI) The Haryana Government has earmarked Rs 573.54 crore to disburse Old Age Allowance, Widow Pension and Handicapped Pension to over 15.64 lakh beneficiaries in the State during the current financial year.

Haryana Social Welfare Minister Kartar Devi said that Rs 371.07 crore had been earmarked to disburse Old Age Allowance to about 10.57 lakh beneficiaries at a rate of Rs 300 per month during the current financial year.

She said beneficiaries of Old Age Allowance included those of National Old Age Pension Scheme. While the Centre had been giving a monthly pension of Rs 200 per month to such beneficiaries, the Haryana Government contributed Rs 100 per beneficiary per month so as to bring their pension at par with those of the Old Age Allowance.

Ms Kartar Devi said a sum of Rs 154.39 crore had been earmarked to disburse Widow Pension at a rate of Rs 350 per month among 3.97 lakh beneficiaries. The State Government had revised the rate of this pension to Rs 350 per month with effect from May 1,2006, she added.

She said Rs 48.08 crore had been allocated to give Handicapped Pension to over 1.10 lakh beneficiaries during the same period.

Handicapped Pension was being disbursed at a rate of Rs 300 per month for 70 per cent handicapped and Rs 600 per month for 100 per cent handicapped.

UNI