In a major announcement, Jharkhand's Chief Minister Hemant Soren announced on Friday that the government has lowered the eligibility age for old-age pension among tribals and Dalits from 60 to 50 years.

As per Chief Minister Hemant Soren, over the 20 years following the establishment of Jharkhand in 2000, only 16 lakh individuals received pension benefits. However, his administration extended pensions to 36 lakh people, primarily focusing on those aged 60 and above.

“The government has decided to provide pension benefits to tribals and Dalits on reaching the age of 50 years. The death rate among them is high and they do not get jobs after 60 years,” Soren said while addressing a function on Ranchi's Morabadi ground organized to mark the completion of four years of the JMM-led government in the state.

“…In four years of our government, we have given pension benefits to 36 lakh people above 60 years of age, widows above 18 years of age, and also physically challenged persons,” he added.

The Chief Minister further emphasized that his government is tirelessly dedicated to the welfare of the people, implementing numerous schemes for the first time. One such initiative is the government's outreach program named 'Aapki Yojna, Aapki Sarkar, Aapke Dwar,' which aims to bring the benefits of government schemes directly to villagers' doorsteps, as PTI reported.

In September of this year, the Jharkhand government took a significant step by incorporating the transgender community into its universal pension scheme. This decision aims to offer social security and integrate the transgender community into the broader fabric of society. As outlined by the Department of Women, Child Development, and Social Security (WCDSS), individuals from the transgender community are required to obtain a certificate from the deputy commissioner’s office to access the benefits of the pension scheme.

Image source: Hindustan Times