Pension News: Now you can get pension from age of 50 years, Govt has made major changes in pension policy

The Jharkhand government is making significant changes to its pension policy, particularly for women, according to an official announcement on Tuesday.

Reduced Qualifying Age for Women’s Pension

The Women, Child Development, and Social Security Department Secretary, Kripa Nand Jha, revealed that the qualifying age for women to receive a pension will be reduced from the current 60 years to 50 years. This proposal is in the advanced stages of discussion.

Extension to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes

As part of the proposed changes, the qualifying age for pension benefits will also be lowered to 50 years for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Chief Minister’s Announcement

Chief Minister Hemant Soren had previously declared on December 29 that tribals and dalits in the state would now be eligible for pension benefits at the age of 50, compared to the previous limit of 60 years.

Anticipated Cabinet Approval

Secretary Jha expressed optimism about receiving approval for the proposal in the next cabinet meeting. If approved, this change is expected to add 18 lakh more beneficiaries to the pension scheme in Jharkhand.

Current Pension Statistics and Increase

Jha shared that the state currently has 35.68 lakh pension beneficiaries, with an 82% increase in the number of pensioners over the past four years.

Improvements to Anganwadi Centers

The department has designed a comprehensive plan to enhance anganwadi centers. Every center will now have benches and desks, and children will receive winter uniforms, along with reading and writing materials.

Anganwadi Infrastructure Plan

Out of the 38,432 anganwadi centers in Jharkhand, only around 25,000 have their own buildings. The department plans to establish buildings for the remaining centers within three years.

Initiatives for the Transgender Community

The government plans to build separate toilets for the transgender community in every educational institution. A proposal for a transgender board and the construction of old-age homes for the community is also underway.

Encouraging Widow Marriage

The Jharkhand government is actively encouraging widow marriage through a new scheme launched in the current financial year. Under this initiative, a one-time honorarium of Rs 2 lakh is provided.