Amid coronavirus crisis, the central government will give three months’ pension in advance to around three-crore widows, senior citizens and differently-abled in first week of April.
As per the source, under the National Social Assistance Program (NSAP), 2.98 crore pensioners will be covered and become eligible for advanced pension plan of the government. The announcements by the government are made in a bid to offer relief amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Further, as per the NSAP, Rs. 200 per month will be given to senior citizens aged between 60-79 years, while others aged 80 years and above will be given Rs. 500 each month. Widows in the age group of 40-79 years will be given Rs. 300 per month while others of 80 years and above will get Rs. 500 per month.
For the differently-abled category, the pension amount is pegged at Rs. 300 per month for individuals aged up to 79 years and for others aged 80 years and above the amount is Rs. 500.
The decision is a part of the series of relief measures being announced by the government in wake of the country’s economy hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak and the on-going lockdown. On Thursday, the government announced an Rs1.7 lakh crore stimulus that included free food grain and cooking gas to poor for three months, and cash doles to women and poor senior citizens as it looked to ease the economic impact of the nationwide lockdown.
