The Telangana State cabinet has decided to distribute increased pension amounts proceedings to the beneficiaries Constituencies wise from July 20. The State cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of  Chief Minister Sri K Chandrashekhar Rao, met here at Pragati Bhavan on Wednesday, discussed the pensions issue at length and took several decisions in this regard.

• It is decided to increase the pension from Rs 1000 to Rs 2016 to Old age people, widows, Toddy workers, Handloom workers, Single women, Filaria affected persons, people with AIDS. The pensions for the differently abled and aged artistes have been increased from Rs 1500 to Rs 3016 and this will be implemented from the month of June. The June pension will be paid to the beneficiaries in July. Proceedings of the pensions will be distributed among the beneficiaries Legislative Assembly constituency-wise on July 20. Ministers, MPs, MLAs, MLCs, ZP Chairpersons will participate in the programme. The government has asked the District Collectors to organise the programme for the distribution of the proceedings. After the distribution of proceedings, pension amount will be paid into the Bank accounts of the beneficiaries.
• To pay the hiked pension it would cost the State Exchequer Rs 12,000 Crore per year; of this the State government will bear Rs 11,800 Crores and Rs 200 Crore by the Centre.
• The State cabinet has also decided to reduce the old age pension scheme eligibility age from 65 to 57 Years in tune with the TRS Election manifesto promise. The Cabinet has instructed the officials concerned to prepare the list of persons of 57 years of age. The Cabinet decided to give pension to the old age pension beneficiaries very soon after the preparation of the list.

• It was also decided to remove cut off date for the Beedi workers’ PF and give pensions to those having the PF account till 17 July 2019 (Wednesday).

• The Cabinet gave approval to the new Municipal Act Draft Bill. The CM will introduce the draft bill in the Legislative Assembly and in Council on Thursday and both the Houses will debate on it.