Patna, July 11 -- Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar transferred Rs 1227.27 crore to the bank accounts of over 1.11 crore beneficiaries of the Social Security Pension Scheme today.
This was the first payment since Nitish Kumar declared a sharp hike in social security pensions for the elderly, persons with disabilities, and widowed women, enhancing the support amount from Rs 400 to Rs 1,100.
The move is widely seen as a strategic attempt by Nitish Kumar to outflank the opposition ahead of the upcoming state elections. While the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has pledged to raise the pension to Rs 1,500 per month, the Jan Suraaj Party has promised Rs 2,000 if voted to power in the polls expected in October-November.
However, Niitsh Kumar said t...