UP govt hikes monthly pension to 1984 riot victim

Lucknow, Aug 12 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh government today hiked the pension to the 1984 anti-Sikh riot victim families to Rs 2,500 per month against the earlier amount of Rs 2,000.

The decision was taken at a Cabinet meet presided over by UP Chief Minister Mayawati here.

The widows and parents of the anti-Sikh riot deceased would get the hiked amount of pension from March 1, 2009 for life.

The government also decided to provide Rs 2,500 as pension to the wives of the victims, who either became over 70 per cent handicapped or were still missing.

Earlier, 49 riot-affected families were receiving Rs 2,000 as monthly pension.

However, with this hike, the state government would now bear Rs 2,94,000 as additional burden each year.

The government has also made a provision of Rs 12 crore for financial assistance to these riot victims in the current financial year.

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