Pension Age: Hemant Soren’s government of Jharkhand has made a big announcement for women. Jharkhand government has decided to reduce the pension eligibility age for women from 60 years to 50 years. Secretary of Women, Child Development and Social Security Department, Kripa Nand Jha said that a proposal in this regard is in the final stage of discussion. Under the proposal, the qualifying age for pension for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and women will be 50 years.
Chief Minister Hemant Soren had earlier announced on December 29 that tribals and Dalits in the state will be eligible for pension benefits on attaining the age of 50 years instead of the earlier limit of 60 years. Jha said that we hope that the cabinet will approve the proposal in the next meeting.
18 lakh new beneficiaries will join the state
He said that after its implementation, additional 18 lakh beneficiaries in Jharkhand will join the pension scheme. Jha said that a total of 35.68 lakh beneficiaries are availing pension in the state. He claimed that the number of pensioners has increased by 82 percent in the last four years.
This is the plan for Anganwadi
Jha also said that the department has prepared a comprehensive plan for Anganwadi centres. He said that every Anganwadi center will now have benches and desks. The centers will also be provided with winter uniforms, reading and writing materials to provide pre-primary school benefits along with nutrition to the children.
Officials said there are 38,432 Anganwadi centers in Jharkhand, but only 25,000 have their own buildings.
Jha said that we have made a plan… to establish buildings for the remaining centers in three years. Apart from this, schemes are also underway for the transgender community.
Separate toilets will be built for transgenders in educational institutions
The official said that separate toilets will be made for transgenders in every educational institution. It has also been proposed to set up a Transgender Board. We have also decided to build an old age home for them.
Jha said that the Jharkhand government is also encouraging widow remarriage in the state and it has started a scheme from the current financial year, under which a lump sum honorarium of Rs 2 lakh has been increased.
