Social welfare committee proposes hike in old age, disability, widow pension

Chandigarh, February 3

The Social Welfare Committee of the Administrator’s Advisory Council Chandigarh has recommended to the UT Administration to consider the construction of a Majdoor Bhawan and one more old age home in the city.

The meeting was held at the UT Guest House under the chairmanship of Satya Pal Jain, former Member of Parliament and Additional Solicitor General of India. The committee has recommended to the UT Administration to increase the old age, disability and widow pension from Rs1000 to Rs2000 per month and take up this issue again with the Union Government for granting its approval to the proposal.

Jain, who presided over meeting, said the committee discussed many issues of social welfare and felt that there was a need for one more old age home in Chandigarh.

The committee felt that keeping in view the large number of labourers there was an urgent need of a Majdoor Bhawan in Chandigarh where labourers could hold their functions at cheaper rates, he added.

The committee discussed the increase in number of beggars in Chandigarh, he said. The panel asked officials to conduct a survey to assess their numbers, especially children and shift them to rescue shelters so that the city could be beggar free in the near future, he added. — TNS