Jaipur : Congress leader Tikaram Julie has written a letter to Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma late on Wednesday evening. Through this letter, the Leader of Opposition has drawn the attention of the CM towards the social security pension (RajSSP) given to the elderly, widows, single women and disabled people in the state. Julie has claimed that for the last few months people are not getting the benefit of the social security pension scheme, due to which they are facing problems in living.
Currently there are more than 90 lakh beneficiaries
The Congress leader wrote in his letter to the CM, ‘In the year 2013, the then Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot started the Social Security Pension Scheme to ensure social security of all sections of the society. Then the pension amount was kept at Rs 500 per month. Between 2014 and 2018, the pension amount was not increased by the then government. In 2019, the then Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot first increased the pension amount to Rs 750 per month. Then in 2023, a provision was made to increase it by 15% per year to Rs 1000 per month, which currently has more than 90 lakh beneficiaries.’
‘This pension is their only source of livelihood’
Julie said, ‘This social security pension is like a lifesaver for these underprivileged people. This pension is the source of livelihood for many people. I have received many representations and pensioners who have told me that their social security pension has not come for the last few months due to which they are facing problems in living.’
‘Provision for 15% increase in pension every year’
Julie further wrote, ‘I would like to bring to your notice that during my tenure as Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, the previous Congress government had enacted the Rajasthan Minimum Income Guarantee Act in 2023, which provides for a minimum pension of Rs 1,000 per month (with 15% increase per annum) to all these elderly, disabled, widows and single women, that is, all these pensioners are legally entitled to get pension every month.’
Urges CM to ensure payment of pension
Julie told the CM, ‘At present, the beneficiaries are not able to get this amount. I request you to instruct the concerned departments and ensure that social security pension is given to all these needy people on priority basis every month keeping in mind their livelihood requirements, so that all of them can get the necessary amount to live a respectable life.’
