Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal on Tuesday announced to set up a separate cell for widows in the Haryana State Commission for Women (HSCW), and increase their monthly pension from Rs 1,600 to Rs 1,800 with effect from January 1, 2018.
The pension would be increased to Rs 2,000 per month with effect from January 1, 2019, said the Chief Minister while speaking as chief guest at the 20th anniversary celebrations of loomba Foundation in Gurugram.
He appreciated the efforts made by the Foundation for the welfare of widows. In view of the hardships faced by his mother, lord loomba established the Foundation in her memory in 1997.
The Chief Minister said that benefit of five per cent marks would be given to widow candidates in the recruitment done by the Haryana State Selection Commission. This benefit would also be extended to such aspirants as had lost their father before they attained 15 years of age.
Presently, this benefit is being given to anganwadi workers and anganwadi helpers in the state, said he.
The monthly pension of Rs 1,600 was being given to about six lakh widows in the state, the highest among the states in the country. Apart from this, financial assistance of Rs 700 is also given to them for the education of their two children below 21 years of age, said Manohar lal.
When the present State Government was formed in October, 2014, there was only one women’s police station in the state whereas now such police stations have been opened in all districts, said he while adding that this would help women, especially widows, in getting police assistance in criminal cases.
He further said that policy has been framed to provide jobs to dependents of martyrs of wars and terrorist incidents. Under this scheme, jobs have been provided to 116 dependents of martyrs during the last three years, he added.
Former first lady of UK and President of loomba Foundation, Cherie Blair, also spoke on this occasion. Others present included founder-Chairman of the Foundation lord Raj loomba, Trustee of the Foundation, Veena lady loomba, Union Minister of State for Social Justice
and Empowerment, Vijay Sampla, and other
dignitaries.