PATNA, June 22 -- Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Saturday announced his government's decision to increase pensions of senior citizens, people with disability and widows by Rs.700 per month, in a move aimed at strengthening the voter base ahead of the state elections later this year. The decision, which will take effect from July, is set to impact 109,969,225 beneficiaries who will now get enhanced pensions of Rs.1,100 under the state's Social Security Pension Scheme. "I am happy to inform you that under the Social Security Pension Scheme, all the elderly, disabled and widowed women will now get a pension of Rs 1,100, instead of Rs 400 every month. All the beneficiaries will get a pension at the increased rate from July," Kumar said in a post on X. The pension amount will be sent to the accounts of beneficiaries on 10th day of every month, he said. "The elderly people are an important part of society, and their dignified living is our top priority. The state government will continue to make efforts in this direction," the chief minister said. He also announced to double the honorarium of all the workers associated with the JEEViKA project, which focusses on the social and economic empowerment of the rural poor, and lowering of interest rate on loans taken by self-help groups under the project. "Self-help groups will now have to pay only 7% interest on bank loans of more than Rs.3 lakh. Earlier, self-help groups had to pay 10% interest on bank loans of more than Rs.3 lakh. Now after the reduction in interest rate, the additional amount to be given to the banks as interest will be given by the government. This will increase the income of JEEViKA sisters and their standard of living will improve further," he said. "1 lakh 40 thousand workers are working for various types of administrative, training and other works related to self-help groups and are doing good work towards making women empowered and self-reliant. In view of this, the state government has decided to double the honorarium of all the workers associated with Jeevika. The state government will bear the additional amount of honorarium increase of these employees. This will increase the morale of the working workers and the work of Jeevika organization will be done in a better manner," he said on X....