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SDPI demands hike in income limit for social security pension

Abdul Majeed, SDPI Karnataka state president alleged that fixing an extremely low annual family income limit of Rs 32,000 to receive social security pensions meant for senior citizens, widows, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable sections in Karnataka is against social justice.

SDPI demands hike in income limit for social security pension
The Times of India

Abdul Majeed, SDPI Karnataka state president alleged that fixing an extremely low annual family income limit of Rs 32,000 to receive social security pensions meant for senior citizens, widows, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable sections in Karnataka is against social justice.

He told reporters on Tuesday that the govt should increase the BPL income limit to Rs 3 lakh and make it a unified eligibility criterion for social security schemes. Govt welfare schemes should not be a system that forces them to run around for documents. Even daily-wage labourers earn between Rs 1.5 lakh and Rs 2 lakh a year. Despite this, applying an outdated income limit of Rs 32,000 to senior citizens, widows, and persons with disabilities is inhumane, Abdul Majeed said.

Various states across the country are using higher income limits or criteria based on BPL/family economic status for social security schemes. Continuing with an income limit of merely Rs 32,000 in Karnataka effectively excludes the poor from social security. The govt is currently taking steps to increase annual income limit for BPL family ration cards from Rs 1.2 lakh. Recommendations and proposals to raise the limit up to Rs 3 lakh are before the govt.

The income limit set by the govt to identify a BPL family should also be applied to social security pensions, he said, adding that this will eliminate the need for a separate income certificate for each scheme.

“Integrate records available across various govt departments to implement a 'No Re-documentation' system. Stop making senior citizens, widows, and persons with disabilities run around govt offices in the name of paperwork,” he demanded.

Source: The Times of India