To provide Social Security to Old Persons who are unable to sustain themselves from their own sources and are in need of financial assistance, Old Age Pension Scheme was initially started w.e.f. 1-4-1964 during Joint Punjab. The rate of pension, which was Rs. 15/- per month at the beginning of the scheme was enhanced from time to time. The Haryana Government implemented this scheme w.e.f. 01-11-1966 and 2382 beneficiaries were paid pension of a total amount of Rs. 24,680. The old age pension scheme was liberalized in 1987 w.e.f. 17.6.87 @ Rs. 100 per month for those 65 years or more.
The State Government further liberalized the scheme and introduced “Old Age Pension Scheme-1991”, now renamed as “Old Age Samman Allowance Scheme”. The scheme came into operation from 1st July, 1991. The age of eligibility was reduced from 65 to 60 year. The aim of the scheme is to ensure benefit of old age allowance to the needy and in particular the poorer sections of the society such as Agricultural Labourers, Rural Artisans, SCs/BCs, Small/Marginal Farmers etc. From 1991 to October 1999 pension @ Rs. 100 per month was given which was increased to Rs.200/- w.e.f. November 1999 and further enhanced to Rs. 300/- per month w.e.f. November 2004, to Rs. 500-700 per month w.e.f. 1 March, 2009, to Rs. 1000/- P.M. W.e.f. 01-01-2014, to Rs. 1,200/- P.M w.e.f 1-1-2015. The rates of Old Age Samman Allowance have been increased to Rs. 1,400/- P.M w.e.f 01-01-2016, Rs. 1600/- w.e.f. 01-11-2016 and Rs. 1800/- w.e.f. 01-11-2017.
(Rs. in Crores)
Financial Year
Beneficiaries
Budget
Expenditure
2013-14
13,47,315
Rs. 1096.84
2014-15
13,90,486
Rs. 1703.51
2015-16
14,19,026
Rs. 2155.70
2016-17
14,39,020
Rs. 2508.61
2017-18
15,12,436
Rs. 3037.48
Rs. 2965.55