Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, while presiding over the State level function of Social Security Pension disbursal to the beneficiaries of Social Justice and Empowerment Department at Shahpur ground in Shahpur Vidhan Sabha area of Kangra district today, transferred Rs. 280 crore as social security pension to 6,35,375 beneficiaries of the State as their three month social security pension. He also personally disbursed pension to 75 beneficiaries to mark the 75 years of existence of Himachal Pradesh.Jai Ram Thakur said that the enhanced social security pensions to the eligible sections of the society for the month of April, May and June have been directly transferred in their accounts. He said that now all the beneficiaries of the social security pension would get their three pensions directly in their accounts four times a year.Chief Minister said that the very first decision of the State Government was aimed at the welfare of the senior citizens.
He said that in the budget for the current financial year the age limit for old age pension, irrespective of income limit, has been reduced to 60 years for all. He said that all such pensioners who were currently getting a pension of Rs.850 per month, will now get Rs.1,000 per month, whereas such pensioners who were currently getting a pension of Rs.1,000 per month, would now get Rs.11,50 per month and all such pensioners who were currently getting a pension of Rs.1,500 per month, will now get Rs.1,700 per month. He said that women in the age group 60 to 65 years would also be entitled to get an old age pension without any income limit. He said that an amount of Rs. 1,300 crore would be spent on this account. He said that an amount of Rs. 3052 crore has been spent by the State Government for providing social security pension to the needy during the last about four years which was a record in itself.
He said that Jan Manch has been proving a boon to the people of the State in redressal of their grievances. He said that free gas connections have been provided to 1.36 lakh families by spending an amount of Rs. 21.81 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana, an ambitious scheme launched by the Centre Government. He said that 3.25 lakh women have been provided free gas connections under Mukhya Mantri Grihini Suvidha Yojna started by the State government. Himachal was declared a smoke-free State in December, 2019 and has become the first State in the country to achieve this achievement, he added.Chief Minister said that 3.34 lakh families have received golden cards under the Ayushman Bharat Yojna. He said that the State Government also launched the Mukhya Mantri Himachal Health Care (HIMCARE) Scheme for the people who are not covered under Ayushman Bharat Yojana. He said that about 4.62 lakh families have been registered under HIMCARE scheme and 1.25 lakh beneficiaries have been provided free treatment facilities worth Rs. 130 crore till date. He said that patients suffering from serious diseases belonging to poor families were being provided Rs. 3000 per month under Mukhya Mantri Sahara Yojna. He said that Rs. 31,000 were being provided to the girls of BPL families at the time of their marriage under the Mukhya Mantri Shagun Yojna.
Jai Ram Thakur said that under the Mukhya Mantri Swabalaman Yojna subsidy was being provided to the youth of the State to start their self-employment ventures. He said that on the total project cost of Rs. 60 lakh, a subsidy of 25 percent for men, 30 percent for women and 35 percent for widows is being given. He said that 2,700 units have been set up, which has given employment to 8,500 persons under this scheme and a subsidy of about Rs. 70 crore has been provided.Chief Minister announced opening of Government College in Dharkandi area, Fire Brigade office at Shahpur, starting of BBA and BCA classes in Government College at Shahpur, starting of Science classes in Government Senior Secondary Schools Boh and Rajol, Commerce classes in Government Senior Secondary School, Gharoh.Jai Ram Thakur also announced upgradation of PHC, Lapiana to CHC, upgradation of Primary School Dharadka to Middle School and Government High School Prei to Government Senior Secondary School. He also paid his tributes to first Chief Minister and founder of Himachal Pradesh Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar on his death anniversary.
Chief Minister also launched ‘Ashrya App’ of the Department on the occasion which would provide online services of Social Justice and Empowerment Department regarding various welfare schemes.Earlier, the Chief Minister performed inaugurations and foundation stones of 14 developmental projects worth about Rs. 90 crore at Shahpur ground for Shahpur assembly constituency.The Chief Minister inaugurated Rs. 1.41 crore bus stand Shahpur, Rs. 1.10 crore bridge at Kent Nallah on Charri Ghera, Rs. 1.79 crore Appropriate Technology Centre ITI Shahpur, Rs. 4.83 crore upgradation of Chambi Bhanala Khas Skou road and Rs. 55 crore 33/132 KV Sub Station Chambi at Suhri.Jai Ram Thakur also performed opening ceremonies of newly created offices of Executive Engineer HPPWD Division Shahpur and Assistant Engineer HPPWD Sub Division Darini. Chief Minister laid foundation stones of Rs. 2.20 crore 33 KV Sub Station at Rajol, Rs. 1.31 crore Anaj Mandi Shahpur at Chambi, Rs. 38 lakh Model Police Station building Shahpur, Rs. 8.92 crore Sarankani kuhal in tehsil Shahpur, Rs. 4.55 crore WSS to village Bandi, Kalyara, Naganpatt and Salli, Kutharna, Bhaled, Dulli, Kakra, Sukkar in tehsil Shahpur, Rs. 1.38 crore flow irrigation scheme Bhadodar Kuhal in tehsil and Rs. 4.54 crore 33/11 KV Sub Station HPSEBL at Darini.
Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Sarveen Chaudhary, while welcoming the Chief Minister and other dignitaries, said that the present State Government headed by the Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur was giving top priority to the welfare and upliftment of the weaker sections of the society. She said that Chief Minister has made Himachal Pradesh as a ‘Model Pradesh’ in the matter of providing social security to the needy. She said that the present State Government was spending over Rs. 1350 crore to the eligible sections of the society. She said that over 2.20 lakh new cases of social security pension have been approved in the State during the last four years. She said that several new schemes have been started for the socio-economic upliftment of the poor and the downtrodden.Speaker H.P. Vidhan Sabha Vipin Singh Parmar, Member of Parliament Kangra Parliamentary constituency Kishan Kapoor, Chief Whip Bikram Jaryal, MLAs Arjun Singh, Reeta Dhiman, District BJP President Chander Bhushan Nag, Vice Chairman OBC Corporation O.P. Chaudhary, Vice Chairman SC/ST Corporation Jai Singh, Additional Chief Secretary Sanjay Gupta, Director Social Justice and Empowerment Vivek Bhatia, Deputy Commissioner Kangra Dr. Nipun Jindal, Superintendent of Police Kushal Sharma were present on the occasion among others.