All eligible elders to get pension: Swarna Ram

Rupnagar, Oct 13 (UNI) All the eligible elders would get the benefit of old-age pension scheme, Punjab Minister for Social Security and Development of Women and Children, Swarna Ram said here today.

While talking to media here last night, Mr Swarna Ram regretted that it was becoming a trend that children did not take care of their parents in their old age.

In view of this, the state government had decided to cover all the eligible women above 60 years and men above 65 years eligible under the old age pension scheme irrespective of the fact that they had an earning son or not.

He said that government had decided to disburse the old age pensions through banks and the SDM rank officers were being given powers to approve pensions.

In addition, the old age pension was also being increased from Rs 250 to Rs 400, he added.

The Minister also disclosed that the government had reserved 10 per cent seats for the students of economically - weaker sections in all the engineering colleges of the state, who would be provided education free of cost.

He said that government had also decided to open four new ITIs in the border area at Mamdot, Guru Harsahai, Dinanagar and Bhikhiwind.

UNI