The Chandigarh Administration has decided to raise the amount of widow and old-age pension from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 per month from the next financial year.
It has also decided to raise the family income criteria to Rs 1.50 lakh annually, which is the same as that for the priority households, eligible to get subsidy for food grains, under the National Food Security Act.
At present, the UT is providing widow and old-age pension of Rs 500 per month to those whose family income is up to Rs 1,20,000 per annum.
The change in the family income criteria is expected to cover more persons under the scheme. At present, 10,300 persons are receiving old-age pension while 6,400 are the beneficiary of pension for widows.
