RANCHI: On Friday, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, on Friday, announced that tribals and Dalits in the state would be eligible for pension benefits when they reach the age of 50. According to a PTI report, the CM explained this decision by saying “The government has decided to provide pension benefits to tribals and Dalits on reaching the age of 50 years. The death rate among them is high and they do not get jobs after 60 years.” The announcement was made during the course of a function organised in the state capital Ranchi commemorating four years of JMM-led governance in the state. 

During the event, CM Soren claimed that only 16 lakh people in the state had gained pension benefits in the 20 years following the formation of Jharkhand in 2000. Under his governance, the state has reportedly provided pensions to 36 lakh citizens, most above the age of 60. 

Soren then went on to emphasise that his government had implemented a large number of schemes for the benefit of the people during his tenure such as the ‘Aapki Yojna, Aapki Sarkar, Aapke Dwar’ outreach programme which delivered the benefits of the aforementioned programmes to the doorsteps of villagers in the state.