Himachal Budget 2022-23: Monthly Old-Age Pension Amount Increased, MLALAD Fund Hiked

Thakur also announced to increase the Member of Legislative Assembly Local Area Development Scheme (MLALAD) fund from the existing Rs 1.80 crore to Rs 2 crore.

Himachal Pradesh CM Jai Ram Thakur arrives to present the state budget in the Assembly, in Shimla, Friday, March 4, 2022. (PTI Photo)

Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh government Friday announced to increase the monthly old-age pension amount from Rs 1,001 to Rs 1,500 in the Budget for 2022-23.

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, who presented the Budget for 2022-23 in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, announced to decrease the age limit from 70 years to 60 years for availing such pension, without any income limit, PTI reported.

Thakur also announced to increase the Member of Legislative Assembly Local Area Development Scheme (MLALAD) fund from the existing Rs 1.80 crore to Rs 2 crore.

The MLALAD fund has been increased by Rs 20 lakh in the Budget, which is the last one before the next assembly elections scheduled to be held in December.

Thakur, who presented his fifth and last budget of the current government, stated that a total of Rs 90 lakh increase had been made in the MLALAD fund during his regime.

The Chief Minister, who also hold the state’s finance portfolio, announced to increase the discretionary grant for the MLAs from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 12 lakh per annum for the next financial year.

With regard to the health sector, Thakur declared to create 500 new posts for doctors in the state.

He announced that a provision would be made whereby the Himcare Card for availing free health services for various ailments will be required to be renewed after three years instead of every year.

The Chief Minister further said the honorarium for mayor, deputy mayor and councillors in municipal corporations has been increased from Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000, from Rs 8,500 to Rs 10,000 and from Rs 5,050 to Rs 6,050 per month respectively.

Besides, Thakur announced that Sardar Patel University in Mandi district would start functioning in April.

He also announced to construct 1,000 new Anganwadi Bhawans in Himachal Pradesh.

Stating that a total of 789 plans from NABARD worth Rs 3,200 crore was approved during the five-year tenure of the previous Congress regime, Thakur said that it stood at Rs 3,452 crore for 826 plans during the current government.