Shimla, Apr 23: Himachal Pradesh government has sanctioned over 99,000 new social security pension cases over the past three years, taking the total number of beneficiaries in the state to over 8 lakh.
These beneficiaries include senior citizens, widows, single women and Divyaangjans covered under various categories, a statement issued here said on Thursday.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that 41,799 new cases of social security pension were approved during the financial year 2023-24, 41,012 in 2024-25 and 16,988 new cases in 2025-26.
He further said that the state government has recently approved amendments to the social security pension rules to ensure the timely disbursement of pensions.
Himachal Pradesh government has sanctioned 99,799 new social security pension cases over the past three years, taking the total number of beneficiaries in the state to 8,41,917, the statement mentioned.
Out of the total beneficiaries, 1,04,740 are receiving the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension, 5,04,253 are receiving the State Old Age Pension, 25,414 are receiving the Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension, 1,26,808 are getting widow, destitute and single woman pension, 1,340 are receiving the Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension, and 78,291 are receiving the Disability Relief Allowance.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to the welfare of vulnerable sections of society, the chief minister said that a monthly pension of Rs 1,500 is being provided to 2,67,040 women under a scheme.
Sukhu further said that the state government has decided to enhance the social security pension for persons with 100 per cent disability from Rs 1,700 to Rs 3,000 per month, benefiting around 7,000 individuals.
He said that one of the most significant reforms undertaken by the state government has been the removal of the income ceiling and the requirement of gram sabha approval for widowed, deserted and single women, as well as for persons with 40-69 per cent disability seeking social security pensions.
This measure has significantly simplified access to pensions and reduced procedural hurdles, particularly for women and persons with disabilities who often face challenges in navigating administrative processes.
The chief minister said that the present state government is ensuring that the weakest sections of society receive their rightful share.
