On Monday, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu launched the distribution of enhanced social security pensions under the NTR Bharosa scheme in Andhra Pradesh. As outlined in the election manifesto, the pension hike has been implemented starting in April in AP, in contrast with Telangana, where the promised hike is yet to be implemented.
On Monday, pensions were distributed to 65.31 lakh people across the state. Beneficiaries received an enhanced pension of Rs. 4,000 and dues for the past three months. Each beneficiary received Rs. 7,000, including an additional amount of Rs. 3,000.
The beneficiaries of this enhanced pension include elderly persons, widows, single women, handloom workers, stone masons, fishermen, artisans, drummers, and transgender individuals, who will now receive Rs. 4,000 per month. For differently-abled individuals, the pension has been increased from Rs. 3,000 to Rs. 6,000, and those suffering from serious illnesses will receive between Rs. 5,000 and Rs. 15,000.
In contrast, there is growing dissatisfaction in Telangana, where the promise of increased pensions has yet to be fulfilled, despite the Congress government being in office for seven months. Beneficiaries are frustrated with the Revanth Reddy government for not implementing the promised increase in support pensions to Rs. 4,000 and differently-abled pensions to Rs. 6,000.
Although it was announced that the increased pensions would be distributed starting December 9 as part of six guarantees, beneficiaries feel cheated as the old pension amounts are still being given. They are now demanding that the government fulfill its promise by paying Rs. 4,000 to Aasara pension beneficiaries and Rs. 6,000 to differently-abled persons, including arrears from December.