First Time in India: MP CM announces Pension for single women and widows above 60 years

The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shivraj Singh Chauhan, has come up with a very unique idea on the International Women’s Day. He has announced that single women and widows above 50 years of age, will be granted a pension under his new scheme Mukhyamantri Mahila Kosh, which he launched on 8th of March- celebrated as Women’s Day worldwide.

“I’ve set up the ‘Mukhyamantri Mahila Kosh’ for women who are above 50 years and unmarried. They will be given pension to ensure that they can take care of themselves,” Said the Chief Minister

“Why just one day, every day ought to be observed as women’s day. It is not possible to run a household or a country or even the world without women for a single day,” he added.

He was overwhelmed by emotion while announcing the scheme in the state capital. He did not disclose the amount which will be granted under the program to women. Later on, he swapped his official SUV car for an autoricksaw ride. Surprisingly, the driver of the ricksaw happened to be a woman.

Shivraj Singh is popularly known as ‘Mama’- one of his affectionate names given by people. He became the Chief Minister of the state in 2005- turning out to be one of the youngest Chief Ministers in India. The state has grown at a very rapid pace under his leadership. Infact the growth rate was higher than all other states in the country in many financial years since he assumed the post. However, some scams and cases of Mafias have tarnished the image of his governance as well.