Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao who had promised to increase Aasara pensions from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,016 per month for the elderly, women whose husbands were dead, single women and other categories, before the elections, on Wednesday directed Chief Secretary S.K. Joshi to initiate measures to distribute the pensions from April next.
Mr Rao promised to enhance the monthly pension for the differently-abled from Rs 1,500 to Rs 3,016 and revision of the minimum age limit for old-age pensioners from 60 years to 57 years.
He asked Mr Joshi to take all measures for selection of new beneficiaries under the scheme and ensure effective implementation from the new financial year. The CM directed Mr Joshi to complete the selection of beneficiaries based on the voters’ list.
According to a press release from the Chief Secretary’s office, Mr Joshi held a meeting with the officials of the panchayat raj and rural development departments, and issued instructions to the collectors for the purpose.
Mr Joshi will hold a video-conference with the collectors on Thursday, to explain the enhanced pension amounts and age-limit relaxation and discuss other issues for its effective implementation. The officials have identified about 20 lakh new beneficiaries in addition to the existing 40 lakh.
