Chhattisgarh's Chief Minister Pension Scheme Expands Reach, Benefits Thousands

• Chhattisgarh's Chief Minister Pension Scheme provides ₹500 monthly to needy sections, including senior citizens, widows, and divorced women.
• The scheme uniquely uses the 2011 socio-economic census, enabling approximately 50% more eligible beneficiaries compared to schemes based on the 2002 list.
• Eligibility requires applicants to be 60+ for senior citizens, and 18+ for widows and divorced women.
• Application process is simple: apply at Gram Panchayat, then forwarded to Janpad Panchayat for verification, and finally to the Social Welfare Department for direct bank deposits.
• Mandatory documents include Aadhaar card, bank passbook, and relevant certificates for specific categories.

Why It Matters: Chhattisgarh's pension scheme offers significant relief by including more beneficiaries through updated census data.