By IANS
Kolkata : The West Bengal government Thursday announced family pension to unwed, divorced or widowed daughters and disabled children after their parents’ death.
Earlier,only widows and widowers were eligible for such pension.
However, a daughter will be able to claim the pension amount provided her monthly income is less than Rs.2,600.
If a person has more than one daughter, he or she can nominate any one of them to receive the pension after the person’s death.
West Bengal Women and Child Development Minister Biswanath Chowdhury told IANS: “It is often seen that after the death of their parents, mentally-challenged people are left with none to support them, let aside provide them with the basic means for sustenance.”
“Now at least they won’t have to be financially dependent on anyone.”
This order has come as a relief to women who have none to turn to except their parents.
Anindita Moitra, a widow, said: ” I hardly earn Rs.2,000 a month and am dependent on my 80-year-old father. This order is definitely a great relief to me and my ailing father.”
The state finance department included disabled children after receiving repeated proposals from the state social welfare department.
The order reads: “If the son or daughter is suffering from any disability of mind and is unable to earn even after attaining the age of 25, family pension will be paid to the son or daughter for life”.