Interim Budget: New pension schemes for widows, disabled

New Delhi: The government Monday announced two new pension schemes for widows and physically disabled in the interim budget 2009-10.

The Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme will provide a pension of Rs.200 to widows in the age group of 40-64, while the Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme aims to provide pension to "severely disabled persons", acting finance minister Pranab Mukherjee said in his budget speech in parliament.

The government has also proposed to give priority to young widows (in 18-40 age group) in admission to industrial training institutes (ITIs), Women ITIs and National Regional ITIs with a view to empowering them.

The government will bear the expenses of their training and provide them a monthly stipend of Rs.500.