Chandigarh, April 12 -- Former Haryana finance minister Sampat Singh on Friday criticised the state government for reducing the number of beneficiaries availing social security pensions.

In a statement, the Congress leader said that the number of beneficiaries receiving old age samman pension as well as those availing financial assistance for widows, destitute women, children, and persons with disabilities, has dropped from 36,46,742 as of March 25 to 35,96,944.

He said that from 2014 to 2019, the pension amount was increased yearly. However, the current budget included no such provision. Given the rising cost of living, the pension and financial assistance should be increased by at least Rs.1,000 per month, the former finance minister ...