Senior citizens lament meagre hike in pension

Manav Mander

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 20

Failing to fulfil its promise of giving Rs 2,500 per month as the pension to the elderly, widows, destitute children and handicapped, the Punjab government today announced a meagre increase of Rs 250 in the existing pension.

Presently, Rs 500 is being given as the pension which has now been increased to Rs 750 per month.

Terming it as a cruel joke, Savitri Devi, a senior citizen, said the government had promised to give Rs 2,500 as the pension per month and they were looking forward to the budget, but were shocked at the announcement made today.

“It seems that the government is playing some kind of game with us. Rs750 is too less an amount for the current scenario when inflation is prevalent. They did not even double the existing amount. All my hopes have been shattered,” she said.

Ram Sharan, a physically-challenged, said he was dependent upon his family for his living. “I was hopeful of getting Rs 2,500 per month, but the government did not live up to our expectation and announced a mere hike of Rs 250, which is very less. I thought I will also give some money to my family for their expenditure, but now it cannot happen,” he lamented.