Bihar election: Nitish hikes pension for widows, disabled, elderly by almost 3x | Patna News
PATNA: In a major move, the state govt on Saturday announced a nearly three-fold increase in social security pensions, raising the monthly allowance for widows, senior citizens and persons with disabilities from Rs 400 to Rs 1,100. The hike will benefit over 1.9 crore beneficiaries, who will begin receiving the revised amount from next month.Announcing the decision via social media, CM Nitish Kumar emphasised the importance of ensuring a dignified life for the elderly, describing them as a “precious part of society”. He added that the enhanced pension amount would be credited directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts by the 10th of every month.“I am happy to inform you that under the Social Security Pension Scheme, all elderly citizens, disabled people and widowed women will now receive Rs 1,100 per month instead of Rs 400. The revised amount will be disbursed from July and will be credited to accounts by the 10th of each month. This will benefit 1,09,69,255 people,” Kumar wrote in his post.The opposition RJD was quick to respond, accusing the govt of mimicking its policies. “The govt is adopting our announcements out of fear of our imminent return to power,” said leader of opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav. “I promised a hike in the social security pension to Rs 1,500 at a press conference on Dec 6 last year. Now the NDA govt has been compelled to follow suit.”The JD(U) defended the move as a continuation of the govt’s development agenda. “This hike reflects Nitish Kumar’s commitment to ‘development with justice’,” a party spokesperson said, advising Tejashwi to focus on serving the poor rather than criticising the govt.Deputy CM Samrat Chaudhary hailed the decision as historic and thanked the CM for addressing the needs of vulnerable people.Patna: In a major move, the state govt on Saturday announced a nearly three-fold increase in social security pensions, raising the monthly allowance for widows, senior citizens and persons with disabilities from Rs 400 to Rs 1,100. The hike will benefit over 1.9 crore beneficiaries, who will begin receiving the revised amount from next month.Announcing the decision via social media, CM Nitish Kumar emphasised the importance of ensuring a dignified life for the elderly, describing them as a “precious part of society”. He added that the enhanced pension amount would be credited directly to beneficiaries’ bank accounts by the 10th of every month.“I am happy to inform you that under the Social Security Pension Scheme, all elderly citizens, disabled people and widowed women will now receive Rs 1,100 per month instead of Rs 400. The revised amount will be disbursed from July and will be credited to accounts by the 10th of each month. This will benefit 1,09,69,255 people,” Kumar wrote in his post.The opposition RJD was quick to respond, accusing the govt of mimicking its policies. “The govt is adopting our announcements out of fear of our imminent return to power,” said leader of opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav. “I announced a hike in the social security pension to Rs 1,500 at a press conference on Dec 6 last year. Now the NDA govt has been compelled to follow suit.”The JD(U) defended the move as a continuation of the govt’s development agenda. “This hike reflects Nitish Kumar’s commitment to ‘development with justice’,” a party spokesperson said, advising Tejashwi to focus on serving the poor rather than criticising the govt.Deputy CM Samrat Chaudhary hailed the decision as historic and thanked the CM for addressing the needs of vulnerable people.
