Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Haryana hikes old age allowance

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, accompanied by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Randeep Singh Surjewala, announcing incentives for beneficiaries of Old Age Allowance Scheme while talking to mediapersons in press lobby of Haryana Vidhan Sabha in Chandigarh on Tuesday.
by Haryanawirenews
Chandigarh, Feb 17

Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda today announced to further enhance the amount of old age allowance to Rs 700 from Rs 500 per month for those who have been getting the allowance under Old Age Allowance Scheme for the last 10 years as on
April 1, 2009.
The Chief Minister made this announcement on the floor of the House during the on going discussion on budget of the State in the State Assembly here today. Mr Hooda made this announcement following a demand made by Congress MLA Anand Singh Dangi that although the State Government had done a lot for all sections of the society,something more should be done by the Chief Minister for the senior
citizens.
The Chief Minister also announced an annual increase of Rs 50 for only those beneficiaries who would get monthly pension of Rs 500. These incentives would be admissible with effect from April 1, 2009.
Mr Hooda also announced to rename the on going Old Age Allowance Scheme as "Vridhavastha Samman Bhata Yojna" and said that its all beneficiaries would be honoured by presenting the females with a shawal and males with a " safa" (turban) and "doga" (walking stick)once.
The Chief Minister said that the scheme would be reviewed after an interval of four years. He said that the decision to increase the allowance with an annual enhancement of Rs 50 has been taken as a mark of respect to the senior citizens and give them their right.
The Chief Minister, who later on replied to the questions of mediapersons in the press lobby of the State Assembly, said in reply to a question that statistics did not matter in such schemes as the Government had given them their right and to uphold their dignity. He was asked to comment on the number of beneficiaries.
It may be recalled that the Chief Minister had, on February 13 announced to increase monthly Old Age Allowance from Rs.300 to Rs.500 in the on going session of the State Assembly. This decision was highly appreciated by the legislators in the House and the people at large in the State.
In reply to a question that whether the Government would like to honour those who have crossed 100 years of their life, the Chief Minister said that the issue would be considered.

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