Panduga for pensioners

Bogolu (Nellore dist): Here is a Sankranti festival bonanza for more than 54 lakh pensioners in Andhra Pradesh. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu doubled the monthly pension of old-aged persons, widows and others from the existing Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000.

The new pension will come into effect from January. The increased pension of Rs 1,000 for the month of January would be paid during February totalling Rs 3,000 and from March onwards Rs 2,000 would be paid regularly.

According to the Chief Minister, this will benefit 24,22,444 old-aged persons, 20,13,808 widows, 6,41,820 physically-challenged, 1,07,992 weavers, 28,011 toddy tappers, 32,979 HIV patients, 1,665 transgenders, 45,358 fishermen, 1,12,471 single women and 8,044 dialysis patients totalling 54,14,592. Transgenders and those having more than 80 per cent disability, who are getting Rs 1,500 at present, will now get Rs 3,000 as pension.

This includes the increased new pension of more than 3.5 lakh sanctioned during the present Janmabhoomi programme. Despite financial crisis due to bifurcation of the state and non-cooperation from the Centre, the Chief Minister said that the state government was committed to the welfare of poor. Describing himself as the first son of every family, the CM said that he wants to see smile on the faces of all the deserving pensioners.

In addition, the Chief Minister announced distribution of land pattas to 60,596 women to an extent of 66,276.79 acres costing Rs 8000 crore benefiting 29,966 SC women, 8,341 ST, 18,244 BC women and 4,024 OC in all the ten constituencies of Nellore district in the name of Pasupu Kumkuma.

The Chief Minister announced distribution of sanitary napkins to 6 lakh girls studying 8, 9 and 10 class at a cost of Rs 120 crore to instill confidene among girls. He said as per the observation of Lok Satta president Jayaprakash Narayan and Jana Sena president Pawan Kalyan the central government has to release Rs 75,000 crore to Andhra Pradesh.

Though the central government is ready to release Rs 35,000 crore, the order is awaiting nod from the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister has been adopting a partisan attitude towards Andhra Pradesh, he said.

The Chief Minister further announced commencement of work to open the sea mouth at Pulicat lake. Earlier, the Chief Minister unveiled the statue of Potti Sriramulu at Juvvaladinne village and announced Rs 110 crore for development of the village.