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Centre hails efforts of Jaipur-based foundation

Special Correspondent

JAIPUR: The Central Government has placed on record its appreciation of the efforts made by the Jaipur-based Social Security Foundation for a recent policy decision leading to the enhancement of the national old age pension from Rs. 75 to Rs. 200 per month.

The Union Finance Minister, P. Chidambaram, announcing the revision in the old age pension in his Budget speech for 2006-07 on February 28, had urged the States to match this amount by their contribution so as to make the pension sum of at least Rs. 400 per month.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, in her budget speech of March 8, has already enhanced the State's share bringing the total age old pension to Rs. 400 per month for senior citizens in the below poverty line (BPL) bracket.

The Union Finance Secretary, Adarsh Kishore, in a letter addressed to the secretary general of Social Security Foundation, Triloki Das Khandelwal, has applauded the foundation's role in encouraging the Central Government to take this significant measure of social security. Mr. Kishore said the Centre gave a ''very careful'' consideration to the subject with the foundation's perseverance and requests.

The Union Finance Minister has made a budgetary provision of Rs. 1,430 crores for 2006-07 to provide the enhanced pensionary benefit to the elderly people. Additional funds, if required will be provided during the course of the year, according to the Budget speech.

Mr. Khandelwal said here on Sunday that the positive measure of both Central and State Governments would go a long way towards bringing smile to weak, aged and deprived citizens in the evening of their lives. He said it represented the United Progressive Alliance Government's commitment to impart social justice.

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