Himachal government official Spokesman revealed that State Govt had accorded sanction for clearing all the 10369 pending applications of social security pension. He said that with this the total number of social security pension beneficiaries had now increased to 2,92,921 which includes old age, widows and disabled pensioners. He said that the State Government had already enhanced the Pensions from Rs. 450 to Rs 500 per month from 1st April, 2013. He said that total budget of Rs. 206.35 crore had been earmarked under Social Security Pension for current financial year.
He said that Government had also decided to increase the pension of those above 80 years of age from Rs. 800 to Rs. 1000 per month. He said that the subsidy for construction of houses to houseless poor SC/ST and OBCs had also been increased from Rs. 48,500 to Rs. 75,000 from 1st April, 2013 and a target of constructing 3562 houses had been fixed during the current financial year.
He said that the grant for re-marriage of widows and inter-caste marriages had also been increased from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 50,000 besides enhancing the grant under Mukhyamantri Kanyadaan Yojna from Rs. 21,000 to Rs. 25,000.
