Jan Suraaj chief Prashant Kishor on Friday welcomed the Bihar government's decision to increase the monthly pension for elderly citizens, persons with disabilities, and widows from Rs 400 to Rs 1,100. While he lauded the move as a step in the right direction, Kishor maintained that the revised amount would still fall short of meeting the basic needs of the poor in the long term.
Reacting to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s recent announcement, Kishor addressed the media in Sasaram, stating, “Tomorrow is a happy day for us because, after three years of Jan Suraaj Abhiyan, the pension amount for the elderly, disabled, and widows is being increased from Rs 400 to Rs 1,100. This is a matter of happiness, and we are thanking the government for this.”
However, he cautioned that the hike, though welcome, was not adequate to ensure economic security for the state’s vulnerable sections. “At the same time, we are also saying that after Chhath, Rs 1,100 will not suffice — Rs 2,000 will have to be given,” Kishor asserted, signaling that Jan Suraaj would continue to advocate for a more substantial welfare package.
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A day earlier, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed satisfaction over the reactions of social security beneficiaries who thanked him for the increased pension. Many said the hike would help them cover their basic monthly expenses and allow them to live with greater dignity. Beneficiaries like Sushila Devi from Bakhtiyarpur, Lakshmi Devi from Chandwari in Mokama, Bandi Khatoon from Paliganj, Mahendra Prasad from Taregana Dih in Masaurhi, and Bhatt Kumar and Geeta Kumari from Dinara in the Bikram block shared their appreciation.
In a post on social media platform X, Nitish Kumar wrote, “Today, I read the reactions of several people in the Hindustan newspaper. They all say that the increase in the pension amount will easily cover their monthly expenses, and now they won’t have to stretch out their hands before anyone. This is a matter of great satisfaction.” The pension hike falls under the purview of various state-run social welfare schemes including the Mukhyamantri Vridhajan Pension Yojana, Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme, and Lakshmibai Social Security Pension Scheme.
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