Ahead of the Bihar assembly elections, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Friday (July 11, 2025) transferred the fund of ₹1.227.27 crore to the accounts of more than 1.11 crore pensioners under the Social Security Pension Scheme through DBT in a programme organized at ‘Sankalp’ located at 1 Anne Marg.
Beneficiaries include old age people, widow and differently abled persons who received hiked amount. The State cabinet recently (June 24, 2025) decided to hike the pension amount from ₹400 per month to ₹1,100.
Bihar Social welfare department runs six different pension schemes for old age people, widowed women and differently abled persons.
The names of six pension schemes are- Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme, Mukhyamantri Vridhjan Pension Yojana, Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme, Lakshmibai Social Security Pension Scheme, Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme and Bihar State Disability Pension Scheme.
The highest number of beneficiaries in all the six pension schemes were from Madhubani district, followed by Patna, East Champaran, Samastipur, Gaya, Darbhanga Saran and Sheikhpura having lowest number of beneficiaries.
A short film based on the Social Security Pension Scheme was also screened by the department in front of the Chief Minister.
Secretary of Social Welfare Department, Bandana Preyashi that 54.5 percent of the total beneficiaries of the Social Security Pension Scheme are women beneficiaries. This reflects inclusive development and social justice.
The pensioners expressed happiness over the increase. Rita Devi, a beneficiary of Belaganj Panchayat of Purnia district, who joined the programme through video conferencing, said that her husband died in the year 2012 and she has two children and mother-in-law.
She has been taking benefit of widow pension since December 2013 and due to rising inflation, her family somehow managed to survive. Ms. Devi thanked the Chief Minister on behalf of the beneficiaries said that now the increased pension amount will be very helpful in managing her child’s education and household expenses.
Another beneficiary Ms. Mona Devi, a resident of Bodh Gaya block of Gayaji district, said that her husband had died a long time ago and she used to get Rs 400 per month as widow pension, which has now been increased to Rs 1100 per month by the Bihar government.
“I express my heartfelt gratitude to the Nitish Kumar ji and also bless him. With the increase in pension, now I will be able to take medicines as well as eat properly,”Ms. Mona said.
Ms. Pushpa Kumari, a resident of Nalanda district too thanked Mr. Kumar calling the increased pension a boon for social security. She asserted that Mr. Kumar has given a lot of convenience to the poor and helpless people by increasing the pension scheme.
While addressing the beneficiaries Mr. Kumar said that after coming to power in November 2005, he has been working continuously for the development of the state.
“From the very beginning, we have started many schemes for the upliftment of all sections. We are continuously working for the welfare of the weaker sections of the society. So today the increased pension amount has been sent directly to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries. I am very happy,”Mr. Kumar said.
Without naming anyone, Mr. Kumar said that those who got the opportunity to work before 2005 did not do any work for the development of Bihar and the upliftment of women, they only keep making absurd statements.
