Ranchi: In a major decision, the Jharkhand government has decided to reduce the qualifying age for old-age pension for tribals and Dalits from 60 to 50 years.
Chief minister Hemant Soren said that only 16 lakh people received pension benefits for 20 years since the formation of Jharkhand in 2000, but his government has provided pension to 36 lakh people, reported PTI.
“The government has decided to provide pension benefits to tribals and Dalits on reaching the age of 50 years. The death rate among them is high and they don’t get jobs after 60 years,” Soren said at a function here on Friday to mark completion of four years of JMM-led government in the state.
“In four years of our government, we have given pension benefits to 36 lakh people above 60 years of age, widows above 18 years of age and also physically challenged persons,” Soren claimed.
In September, Soren’s government added the transgender community under its universal pension scheme to extend them social security and introduce them into the mainstream of society.
Transgenders have to get a certificate from deputy commissioner’s office to avail benefits of pension scheme in the state.
