Respect, not amount, is important: Nitish Kumar

PATNA: Chief minister Nitish Kumar said in the legislative council on Tuesday that the idea behind giving Rs400 as old age pension was to give respect to senior citizens and the amount should not be compared with that given in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana or Haryana as the per capita income in Bihar is less than other states.
Intervening in the government’s reply to a call attention notice of Congress MLCs Madan Mohan Jha and Prem Chandra Mishra, Nitish said: “Bihar is not yet in the bracket of ‘high cost’ economy. Expenditure can be managed with limited money as well. I am not saying Rs400 is enough, but this amount will get elderly people respect in their families. Now, there is also a law under which you will be punished if you mistreat elderly people.”
The CM intervened after Mishra cited the example of Tamil Nadu and Telangana where Rs1000 is given as old age pension per month, while it is Rs1,800 in Haryana and Rs2,000 in Andhra Pradesh. “Without using brain, you ask questions. What is per capita income of those states? They are more developed states than us. We have started Mukhyamantri Vridhajan Pension Yojana for all irrespective of social status but not availing any other pension. It is better you suggest people to apply and get the benefits.”
The CM said the state would incur Rs1,800 crore additional expenditure and it was not a small thing. He said in various other centrally sponsored pension schemes, the Centre-state ratio is 60:40 and if the Centre increases the money, Bihar will also increase its share accordingly.