INDIA: Karnataka's Low Income Seniors to Get Monthly Pension

* Pension scheme from this month * Eligibility: annual income of less than Rs. 20,000 * Beneficiaries will get a pension of Rs. 400 a month BANGALORE, Karnataka (The Hindu), September 5, 2007: Eligible senior citizens will get a monthly pension of Rs. 400, beginning this month, under the Karnataka State Government's ‘Sandhya Suraksha’ scheme. Senior citizens (both husband and wife), aged 65 and above, whose annual income is less than Rs. 20,000 are eligible for the scheme. Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa told presspersons here on September 4 that Deputy Commissioners had been instructed to ensure that pensions were distributed from this month. Over 700,000 beneficiaries had been identified so far, and Rs. 2500 million had been allocated in the Budget for the scheme, he said. © Copyright 2000 - 2006 The Hindu