Disabled to get hiked pension of Rs 1,500 from Jan 1: Stalin

CHENNAI: Chief Minister MK Stalin on Saturday announced a 50% hike in the pension for disabled people to Rs 1,500 for 4.39 lakh disabled people in Tamil Nadu.

Speaking at the celebration of the International Day of Disabled Persons at Kalaivanar Arangam on Saturday, Stalin said, “The pension received by 4,39,315 disabled persons, including the visually impaired, through the State Revenue Department will be increased from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 with effect from January 1.” The government will incur an additional expenditure of Rs 263.58 crore per year owing to the hike in pension.

“This government, which is founded on the principle of social justice, would forever be a government for all people, especially the marginalised, under all circumstances. The government will be one of them and address their needs,” Stalin said, adding, the government is trying to create a situation where disabled people would be able to work from their homes without travelling to their offices.

The Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation is offering new skill development training besides providing laptops with software to differently-abled persons under the Naan Mudhalvan scheme to enhance their employability, the CM said, adding that the government has constituted an expert committee and high-level committee for the government and private sector to identity suitable jobs for disabled persons, whose contribution is significant in the economic progress of a nation.

The committees will advise the government to take appropriate steps in tune with technological advancement to help disabled persons function in workplaces without depending on others. State ministers K Ponmudi (Higher Education), P Geetha Jeevan (Social Welfare), Ma Subramanian (Health), PK Sekar Babu (HR and CE) and CV Ganesan (labour) also participated in the function.