Sri Vijaya Puram, May 31: Member of Parliament Bishnu Pada Ray has called on the Andaman and Nicobar Administration to increase the monthly social security allowance for senior citizens, widows, persons with disabilities (Divyangjan), and destitute individuals from the existing ₹2,500 to ₹5,000. For individuals above the age of 80, he has proposed a revised amount of ₹6,000 per month.
In a formal representation submitted to the Lt. Governor, the MP expressed concern over the stagnant status of these crucial welfare schemes, which are disbursed through the Department of Social Welfare and have not seen any revision since April 2018. He highlighted that despite a significant rise in the cost of living and inflation, no efforts have been made to revise the current allowance amounts, making it increasingly difficult for vulnerable beneficiaries to meet basic needs.
“The cost of essential commodities and transportation in the islands is much higher than on the mainland. The current allowance is insufficient for survival under prevailing economic conditions,” the MP stated, pointing to Consumer Price Index (CPI) trends and inflation as indicators of growing hardship.
He further drew attention to the disparity between government employees, whose Dearness Allowance (DA) and Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) are revised biannually, and social security beneficiaries, who continue to be overlooked. Additionally, he recommended updating the outdated income eligibility criterion of ₹4,000, fixed in 2015, to ₹10,000 or more to reflect present-day economic realities and enable fairer inclusion.
The proposal also reflects discussions held during the District Planning Committee (DPC) meeting in South Andaman in April 2025, where members unanimously supported the enhancement of both the allowance amount and the income ceiling.
Ray also flagged persistent delays in the disbursement of social security pensions, citing reasons such as fund unavailability, technical glitches in digital processing, and issues related to life certificate uploads. He urged the Administration to streamline the disbursement process and ensure payments are made on a fixed date every month to prevent undue distress among beneficiaries.
Reaffirming his commitment to safeguarding the welfare of the most vulnerable, the MP urged immediate administrative action to implement these changes.
