Punjab hikes social security pensions from R500 to R750

R1500 Government considering to increase the pensions upto per month under old age, widow and PwD scheme as promised

Punjab government increased the Social Security Pension from Rs. 500 to Rs. 750 for 23.95-lakh beneficiaries which will put an annual burden of Rs. 2,165 crore. The government is considering to increase the pension amount from Rs 750 to Rs 1,500 per month under the old age, widow and divyang scheme as promised in the party’s election manifesto. The government has increased the financial assistance under the Aashirwad scheme from Rs.15,000 to Rs. 21,000. The captain Amarinder government has paid Rs. 378.5 crore to beneficiaries since March 2017. The government waived loans up to Rs. 50,000 granted by SC Corporation and BC Corporation and increased the reservation for OBCs in educational institutions from 12% to 15%. It also increased the reservation for SCs from 15% to 30% in government schemes. The Capt Amarinder government amended the Punjab Civil Services Rules to allow travelling allowance in respect of the attendant/escort for accompanying persons with disabilities during travel, while on official tour/training. The government increased the gross annual income limit for the creamy layer of the OBCs/BCs from Rs. 6 lakh to Rs. 8 lakh. It restored the Special Family Pension for widows of government employees killed by extremists and also agreed to extend the Red Card Scheme to families of police personnel killed during the militancy period. The government conducted a special recruitment drive to clear the backlog of vacancies for persons with disabilities in the public sector. The government amended the Premature Release Policy to allow early release of mentally incapacitated or terminally ill life convicts. And decided to give an allowance of Rs. 8000 per month to women victims of acid attacks. The government established Rs. 1,500-crore fund under the Punjab Social Security Act, 2018, to be used for pensions, health insurance, scholarships and Aashirwad grants and other such benefits to Dalits and OBCs. It restored 14% reservation to SC employees in Group-A and Group-B, and 20% in Group-C and Group-D, services for filling up the vacancies by promotion through an amendment to the Punjab Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes (Reservation in Services) Act, 2006. The state government gave nod for allotment of land by development authorities, improvement trusts and MCs for employees cooperative group housing societies at reserve prices. The government cleared 5% reservation in allotment of plots/houses by urban estates/ improvement trust/Pepsu Township Development Board for victims of the 1984 riots and terror attacks in Punjab without any financial concession for five more years. The Capt Amarinder government issued 1,15,000 Unique Disability ID (UDID) cards to persons with disabilities to avail benefits under different government schemes.