Old age pension in Haryana is no less than a political issue. The BJP in its election manifesto had promised a pension of Rs 3,100 within five years, which is nearing completion. BJP’s ally had announced a monthly pension of Rs 5,000 but then did not contest the elections in alliance with the BJP. The Haryana government can give the benefit of enhanced pensions to the elderly in the state at any time. At present, a monthly old age pension of Rs 2,750 is being given in the state, which will be increased to Rs 3,000 per month.
The Congress has announced a monthly pension of Rs 6,000 per month and the INLD Rs 7,500 per month for the elections to be held in the year 2024. BJP’s ally JJP is also promising to give a monthly pension of Rs 5,500 to the farmers. Sudesh Kataria said that the government is close to fulfilling the promises made in the 2019 elections. The BJP organisation and the government will together decide on the next promise and will mention it in their election manifesto. Support of poor families who depend on pensions is vital as there are lakhs of families in Haryana, whose survival is based on the pension amount. There are also hundreds of people who live separately from their children and have no other means for their livelihoods.
Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has already announced the same. CM Khattar is likely to officially announce this hiked monthly pension during the monsoon session of the Assembly. The Haryana government has already given a big relief to the elders of the state. Chief Minister Khattar’s government has extended the income limit to Rs 1 lakh to be eligible for getting an old age pension. Earlier, the benefit of pension was given by the government only to the elderly with an annual income of Rs 2 lakh, but now after increasing the limit, elderly people with an annual income of up to Rs 3 lakh will also be entitled to a pension. The government has issued a notification in this regard. The elders of the state are getting the benefit of a monthly pension of Rs 2,750 from
April 2023.
