Himachal Govt to hike old age pension amount

 Himachal Pradesh government on Friday announced to increase the monthly old-age pension amount from Rs 1,001 to Rs 1,500. Presenting the Budget for 2022-23 in the state Assembly, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur also announced to decrease the age limit from 70 years to 60 years for availing such pension, without any income limit.

The Chief Minister, who also holds the finance portfolio for the state was presenting his fifth and last budget of the current BJP-government in the state, before the next Assembly elections scheduled to be held in December.

In its last budget, the current state government also announced to increase the Member of Legislative Assembly Local Area Development Scheme (MLALAD) fund from the existing Rs 1.80 crore to Rs 2 crore. The MLALAD fund has been increased by Rs 20 lakh in the Budget, and Thakur stated in the state assembly that a total of Rs 90 lakh increase had been made in the fund during his government.

The chief minister also announced to increase the discretionary grant for MLAs from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 12 lakh per annum for the next fiscal.

In the health sector, the chief minister declared to create 500 new posts for doctors in the state. Thakur announced that a provision would be made whereby the Himcare Card for availing free health services for various ailments will be required to be renewed after three years instead of every year.