Cash-strapped Haryana puts off pension hike payments

CHANDIGARH, DEC 12: The resource-starved Om Prakash Chautala-led Indian National Lok Dal government has put a two-month moratorium on disbursement of the hiked old age pension. The monthly old age pension was to be doubled to Rs 200 in December 1999 in line with the announcement made by the Chief Minister on the occasion of the birthday of former deputy Prime Minister and his father, Devi Lal.

The decision to defer its implementation has been taken by the Chief Minister after the Finance Department expressed its inability to release additional funds for the disbursement to the 6.56 lakh beneficiaries. The district authorities have even delayed paying the pension at the existing rate of Rs 100 per person.