Mon Nov 25 10:35:05 UTC 2024: ## Delhi Expands Old-Age Pension Scheme, Adding 80,000 Beneficiaries
**New Delhi, [Date]** – The Delhi government announced a significant expansion of its old-age pension scheme today, adding 80,000 new beneficiaries, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal declared at a press conference. This brings the total number of pensioners in the city to 5.3 lakh.
The expansion follows a Sunday cabinet approval and the launch of a new online application portal, which has already received 10,000 applications, Kejriwal claimed. He touted the scheme as a testament to the government’s commitment to social welfare, contrasting it with what he described as the BJP’s halting of pensions during a period of his imprisonment. Kejriwal stated that the Delhi government not only reinstated those pensions but also significantly increased the number of recipients.
The Delhi government boasts the highest old-age pension rates in India, Kejriwal asserted, providing ₹2,000 per month for those aged 60-69 and ₹2,500 for those 70 and above. Minister Atishi echoed the government’s dedication to public service, while Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj revealed plans to further extend support by providing a ₹5,000 monthly pension to differently-abled individuals.
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