Writeup AP 2011-12 - Punjab State Planning Board

distribution of Sport equipment, material and kits etc. in the memory of Sahibzada Zorawar
Singh. Government of India should share 50% cost in providing the same.
SOCIAL SECURITY
149. The state government is conscious of its responsibility towards the weaker
sections of the society. A dedicated Social Security Fund amounting to Rs. 550 crore funded
by 5% cess on electricity duty and 3% additional stamp duty on urban land transactions has
been created to meet the State’s commitment in regard to old age and other pensions, various
scholarships for SC girls and boys and other beneficiaries schemes for the disadvantaged
groups.
150. The state government is paying monthly pension of Rs. 250/- to 13,93,852 old
persons, 1,04,921 dependent children, 1,30,351 disabled persons and 2,51.324 widows.
Against the total outlay of Rs. 536 crore for disbursing pensions to above-said 18.80 lakh
pensioners during 2010-11, Rs. 591 crore have been provided to cover 19.70 lakh pensioners
during 2011-12. The state government has lowered the qualifying age limit for old age
women pensioners from 60 years to 58 years wef 2011-12. Under National Social Assistance
Programme, a pension of Rs. 200/- pm over and above the pension paid by the state
government shall be given by Government of India to the beneficiaries of BPL families
which includes 1,66,689 old persons, 13,672 widows and 3375 disabled persons. Besides, Rs.
10,000/- per beneficiary shall be given to 2,672 BPL families in case of death of their
breadwinners. A sum of Rs. 48 crore has been provided under the programme for 2011-12.
The state government is actively pursuing a programme to disburse these pensions at the
homes of the beneficiaries, through the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) scheme, in
collaboration with banks. The age limit of 40 years under Government of India Widow
Pension Scheme should be relaxed and all widows above the age of 18 years shall be made
eligible as under the state scheme. The limit of 80% disability under Government of India
scheme should also be relaxed to 50% as under the state scheme.
151. In order to provide our girls better access to education and to check the
dropout rate at secondary and senior secondary level, the state has launched an ambitious
scheme namely ‘Mai Bhago Vidya Scheme’ with an outlay of Rs. 75 crore under which free
bicycles shall be provided to all girl students studying in class 11th and 12 th in government
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