Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 26: Jammu Kashmir Batwal Sabha has urged the Government to enhance the rate of old age, disability and widow pension in view of current inflation rate.
The demand was raised during a meeting of the Sabha, held here today under the chairmanship of R L Kaith, FLC, J&K Advisory Board for Welfare and Development of SCs.
The meeting passed a resolution to urge the Government of Jammu and Kashmir to be kind enough and enhance the rate of old age, disability and widow pension from Rs 1000 to Rs 2500 per month in view of current inflation rate, as has been done by the Delhi Government.
JKBS’ R S Pura Block President Jagdish Raj Kaith stated that the last increase was made more than a decade when pensions under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme, Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme and Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme went up from Rs 200 to Rs 300/month.
The meet observed that the inflation is so high that it doesn’t cover the food needs of the beneficiaries even for 10 days and beneficiaries can’t buy medicines, etc.