UT Further Reforms Social Protection

Chandigarh, 3 February, 2016:  The Chandigarh Administration is endeavoring to provide social security/financial assistance to widow and old age persons who are without any means of subsistence.  Widow/Old Age pension is being provided @ Rs. 500/- p.m. to those whose family income is up to Rs. 12000/- per annum.   It is seen that low rates of assistance discourage genuine needy people. 

In order to achieve its basic objectives of social and economic uplift of the citizens, the Administration is constantly improving social security schemes to make them more realistic and  has  now decided to raise the amount of widow and old age pension from Rs 500/-  to Rs. 1000/- from next financial year and also raise the criteria of family income to Rs 1.50 lac annually  which is the same as that for the Priority households under National Foods Security Act who are eligible to get subsidy for food grains. The change in family income criteria will cover more persons. At present there are 10300 people receiving old age pension and 6400 widow beneficiaries. On similar lines financial assistance for Divyangs and destitute children is under revision.