MP govt to refer to widows as 'kalyani', announces pension

The Madhya Pradesh Government today cleared a monthly pension scheme of Rs 300 to widows in the age group of 18-79 years besides financial assistance of Rs two lakh for their remarriage.

The state cabinet today approved the "Mukhyamantri Kalyani Sahayata Yojana" in a meeting chaired by the Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, informed Public Relations Minister Narottam Mishra.

Mishra said that the state would, from here on, refer to a widow as "kalyani".

He said that under the scheme, widows in the age group of 18-79 years would be provided a pension of Rs 300 per month while those older would get a monthly pension of Rs 500.

"The government will provide financial assistance of Rs two lakh for the remarriage of widows," he said.

Earlier in October last year, Chouhan had made an appeal to people asking them to come forward to encourage remarriage of widows and root out social evils like dowry and child marriage.