Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi has questioned the Jharkhand government over delays in disbursing old-age, widow and disability pensions, claiming that many beneficiaries have not received payments for the past five to six months.
Marandi said the monthly pension may appear small, but for elderly, widowed and disabled beneficiaries it is often crucial for buying medicines, food and meeting household expenses. He said prolonged delays had added to the difficulties of people who have little or no other source of income.
He urged the state government to intervene immediately and clear all pending pension dues so that beneficiaries waiting for months can receive relief.
Marandi also alleged that the government had delayed traditional social security pensions by diverting financial resources towards its flagship Mukhyamantri Maiyan Samman Yojana. The allegation could not be independently verified.
Meanwhile, the Rashtriya Nari Shakti Mahila Organization demanded that the monthly social security pension for widows, abandoned women and destitute women be increased to ₹2,500.
The organisation said the existing pension of ₹1,000 a month was inadequate amid rising living costs. It questioned why eligible women aged 18 to 50 were receiving ₹2,500 a month under the Maiyan Samman Yojana while widows and other vulnerable women continued to receive a much lower amount.
The organisation urged the government to revise the social security pension and provide greater financial support to vulnerable women.