The monthly pension scheme for economically deprived widows, under which they were paid a pension of Rs.1,000, has now been extended to cover the divorced, separated, abandoned, deserted and destitute women in Delhi.
A decision on extending the scheme was taken by the Delhi Cabinet on Tuesday.
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, who chaired the meeting, said the pension scheme for widows was launched in 2007-08 and provides coverage to about 33,000 women, who are paid a monthly pension of Rs.1,000.
“It had been observed that in addition to widows there is a large number of women in distress who are in desperate need of financial assistance. These women may be divorced, separated, abandoned and destitute. It has been decided to expand the eligibility conditions under widow pension scheme to include these women,’’ she said.
As per the extended scheme, the monthly pension of Rs.1,000 would get directly remitted in the bank accounts of these women through the electronic clearance system every quarter.
For availing themselves of the scheme, the women would have to be residents of Delhi for more than five years preceding the date of application, aged between 18 and 60 years, and should have a saving account in any bank having electronic clearing system. The scheme would, however, not be available to women receiving any pension from the Government, corporation or public agency or those who may be receiving an alimony or maintenance allowance as per judicial orders.
On reaching the age of 60, the pensioners in this case would be automatically be transferred to the Old Age Pension Scheme.
Incidentally, last week Delhi Education Minister Kiran Walia had told The Hindu that the scheme would initially seek to cover about 7,000 women in Delhi as 100 forms each would be distributed to all the MLAs.
The Cabinet has also approved the payment of enhanced uniform allowance in cash and doubled the hospital patient care allowance (HPCA) to Group ‘C’ and ‘D’ employees in the Delhi Government hospitals. These schemes would benefit about 9,000 employees.
It decided to continue and double the HPCA till the proposed scheme of risk insurance took a definite shape. As for uniform allowance, it was mentioned that it would be paid in cash at the rate of Rs.500 per year in respect of group ‘C’ staff, up from Rs.350 at present, and at Rs.2,500 per year to the group `D’ staff instead of Rs.1,800 per annum at present.
As for HPCA, it has been announced that group ‘C’ and ‘D’ employees will now be getting a sum of Rs.1,380 per month instead of Rs.690. The revised allowances will cost the exchequer Rs.8.62 crore per annum.
The Cabinet also approved a proposal for settlement of outstanding dues with Haryana Vidyut Prasaran Nigam Limited in respect of supply of electricity from Indraprastha Power Station of IPGCL.
