By IANS
New Delhi : The government is considering making available old age pension to the poor from the age of 60 years, instead of the present 65.
Rural Development Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh said Tuesday that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government was “seriously considering” expanding the ambit of the scheme.
“The finance ministry and the Planning Commission have positively responded to the move. Most likely a formal announcement would be made in the budget session,” Singh told the 8th Social Editors’ Conference here.
He said that 16 million people in the below poverty level (BPL) category and aged 65 or above were currently getting pension of Rs.200 each under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension (IGNOAP) scheme.
“The number would go up to 40 million if the age ceiling is reduced to 60 and Rs.8,000 crore (Rs.80 billion) would be disbursed among them monthly,” he said.