Promotion of welfare of elderly people is Centre's priority: Vijay Sampla

PUDUCHERRY: Union Minister Vijay Sampla today said the promotion of the welfare of the elderly and differently-abled persons was the priority of the NDA government at the Centre.

Distributing the benefits of various schemes under Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana here today he said the promotion of welfare of the aged persons and the differently abled persons was given prominence and priority by the Central government.

He further said the Centre was also ready to cooperate with the state governments to ensure that the Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana was successfully implemented across the country.

Extension of financial assistance to the downtrodden, women and also weaker sections was a major feature of the welfare schemes of the Ministry for Social Justice and Empowerment, he added.

Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy who presided over said that there should be coordination between States and the Centre to ensure successful implementation of welfare schemes.

A monthly assistance of Rs 2000 was available to each of 20,952 differently abled persons in the Union Territory, he noted.

He claimed that Puducherry had not witnessed any incident of "farmers suicide" unlike the scenario prevailing in some other states.

Welfare Minister M Kandasamy said that the Centre should come to the rescue of the territorial government which had been reeling under very serious fiscal crisis now.