Rs.1050 crore being spent for providing Social Security Pension to 6.60 lakh people : Jai Ram Thakur

Shimla : Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said here today that the State Government was committed for welfare and empowerment of women and has launched several schemes to ensure their socio economic upliftment. He said that the State Government has enhanced the post birth grant being provided to two children of the families living below poverty line from Rs. 12000 to Rs. 21,000 in shape of fixed deposit at the time of birth by rationalizing and unifying both post birth grant scheme as well as scholarship schemes.Jai Ram Thakur said that the State Government has also launched ‘Shagun’ Scheme for providing financial assistance of Rs. 31000 to the girls belonging to all the BPL families at the time of their marriages. He said that the State Government was also providing social security pension to all the eligible vulnerable sections of the society. He said that presently 5.77 lakh people were being provided social security pension by spending an amount of Rs. 875 crore. He said that as many as 40,000 additional beneficiaries would be covered under the social security pension scheme.Chief Minister said that the State Government was providing social security pension of Rs. 1500 per month to eligible senior citizens above the age of 70 years. He said that from this year the Government has decided to expand social security net for eligible elderly women in the age group of 65 to 69 years irrespective of income criteria under the Swaran Jayanti Nari Sambal Yojna. He said that social security pension of Rs. 1000 per month would be provided to about 60,000 eligible women. He said that a total 6.60 lakh people were being covered under different social security pension schemes on which Rs. 1050 crore were being spent annually.Jai Ram Thakur said that ‘Grihini Suvidha Yojna’ has proved a boon to the home makers by freeing them from disease and pollution. He said that under this scheme as many as 2.92 lakh families have been provided free gas connections. He said that new eligible families were being provided gas connections under this scheme.