News Desk: Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh supported the higher monthly pension proposal for the senior citizens, saying the grant of Rs 200 per month provided under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme is an insult to the dignity of an individual.

Following a petition made by activist and National Advisory Council member Aruna Roy to enhance the sum and for some other benefits, Jairam wrote to the Prime Minister on May 16 with a demand to increase the monthly pension to a tune of Rs 2,000.


The Minister also urged that the government should suspend the idea of identifying the Below Poverty line (BPL) and Above Poverty line (APL) beneficiaries under the pension scheme. This was also another request by the Pension Parishad.


Again, telling about the complain that the beneficiaries are getting the pension amounts bunched every few months Ramesh said that payment must be made at a promised date into the bank account of the beneficiary. He said that he has already submitted a proposal to use 'Aadhar', the special identity numbers in this context.

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