Jolly Demands an Increase in the Amount Old Age, Widow, Destitute Pension and Disability Allowances

Details

Rs. 2500/- is Quite Meagre an Amount Considering Prevailing Cost Price Index of Our Islands: Jolly

Port Blair, Dec. 5: Mr. Vishal Jolly, National Executive Member BJP, Former State President BJP A&N and Member of Home Ministry Advisory Committee, Govt. of India has demanded increasing Old Age Pension, Widow Pension, Destitute allowance, and Disability Persons Allowance considering the prevailing cost price index of these Islands through a letter addressed to Chief Secretary, A&N Administration.

In his letter he wrote that the Directorate of Social Welfare provides old age Pension, Widow Pension, Destitute allowance and Disability allowance for the welfare of people under which several eligible needy people are availing these benefits. But, there is one factor which is quite important and requires positive consideration is that these Pension & allowances are merely Rs. 2500/- which is quite less. 

He mentioned that, the prevalent cost price index of our Islands, due to its geographical isolation & distance is much higher than other States and Union Territories and it has also been observed that the meagre amount of Rs. 2500/- is disbursed either in the second week or third week of the month which is extremely unfortunate and disheartening. 

He also mentioned that islanders are largely dependent upon goods and products from other parts of our Country and consequently the prices get escalated to such an extent that it is nearly impossible for any beneficiaries of the aforementioned pensions & allowances to manage themselves with a meager amount of Rs. 2500/- only.  They are totally dependent upon these benefits and under no circumstances this amount would suffice the very objective of providing their basic needs.

Accordingly, he requested the Chief Secretary, A & N Administration to sympathetically consider the plight of these categories of people & increase these pension & allowances from Rs. 2500/- to Rs. 4000/- per head and ensured that these pensions & allowances are disbursed at least in the first or second day of each & every month, for the welfare of these beneficiaries.