Widow’s Pension Update: Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy told the territorial assembly on Friday that the monthly assistance of Rs 2,000 currently paid by the government to widows will be increased to Rs 3,000. According to him, it initially means free bus rides with government cars. for scheduled caste community women will be extended to all women. The widow’s pension (monthly allowance) of Rs 2,000 will be increased to Rs 3,000, he added.
He said that the untimely rains in Karaikal district in February damaged the paddy fields and said that the farmers who lost 4111.50 hectares of crops will be paid compensation of Rs 7500 per hectare.
5137 farmers will be covered in Karaikal district. He said this compensation would be in addition to the production incentive of Rs 12,500 per hectare. He said that his government will soon launch a health insurance scheme that will benefit all card holders (red or yellow ration cards).
Earlier, members crossing party lines at zero hour brought to the attention of the government the suffering of residents and motorists due to stray dogs in the Union territory. Some members want the government to step up measures to provide vehicles to municipal bodies to transport stray dogs to their kennels. To this, Agriculture Minister K. Jeakumar said that every time a drive against stray dogs starts, “some groups come out strongly against the government’s steps. We are practically powerless to start a drive against stray animals.”
