During his interim budget speech on Monday, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee announced an assistance of Rs 200 to the widows in the age group of 40-64 under Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme. “Severely” physically disabled in the age group of 18 rs to 64 years will also get Rs 200 pension under the Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme. The speech also included “preference” of young widows (18 to 40 years) in the admissions to Women ITIs along with a stipend of Rs 500 to them. The announcement is an expansion of the existing scheme, Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme which was launched in 2007.

“Financial assistance are expected to encourage self-confidence, but Rs 200 is a mockery of the disability. This is more like an ugly joke, an insult. We can earn more than that Rs 200 by different means. They are promoting beggary and not self-confidence. Instead of giving such alms, they should have given education of created job opportunities for the group,” said M N Khathre, vice-chairman, Society for Welfare of Differently-abled Persons

S S Ranade, former of commandant of BSF, a beneficiary of the pension scheme, is still fighting a pension related case. “The amount is too meagre, this would not even help then buy a week’s vegetables. We call ourselves a welfare state and such schemes are social responsibility then why do it as if giving alms to beggars. The minimum amount expected is Rs 500. Moreover we have see to it that the money reaches the right person and is not “lost in transit.”

While Kathre finds it a mockery, Anvar Rajan of, Pragatisheel Bharatiya Muslim Andolan, sees it as a ray of hope. “Even I feel that the amount is less, but isn’t something better than nothing?” he says. He believes that once things start rolling, the changes can always be brought. “The gesture shows that at least the government is thinking about such groups, who need assistance more than anyone. Once introduced, we can always expect things to improve. However, it is early to comment on this, as execution will see many more hurdles,” he adds.