By IANS,
New Delhi : The Delhi government Monday decided to hike the monthly pension of senior citizens, who are above 70 years, from Rs.1,000 to Rs.1,500, with effect from Oct 1, 2011.
The move, which will benefit more than 160,000 people, comes ahead of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi elections scheduled to be held in 2012.
“All the senior citizens above 70 years will get Rs.1,500 as a monthly pension,” Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit told reporters here.
The government has been providing pensions of Rs.1,000 to senior citizens, who are above 60 years, residing in Delhi for five years and whose annual family income is less than Rs.60,000 from all sources, she added.
The pension is sanctioned under the old age financial assistance scheme of the social welfare department. Presently, 3,61,987 beneficiaries are listed under the scheme.
The city government will release an additional budget allocation of Rs.34 crore to meet the enhanced liability.