Andhra spent over Rs 50,000 cr on social welfare pensions in 18 months: Minister
Machilipatnam (AP) (PTI): Andhra Pradesh is leading the way in social welfare spending, with a significant focus on pensions, state Minister Kollu Ravindra has said.
The state has spent Rs 50,763 crore on pensions in the last 18 months, he added.
"Andhra Pradesh is the only state in India that provides a large number of pensions," the minister holding the mines and geology and excise portfolios said.
Speaking to the media on Monday, Ravindra said the state government has allocated a substantial budget of Rs 34,000 crore for the NTR Bharosa pension scheme, benefiting 63,25,999 people, as per December figures.
He added that Rs 2,739 crore was distributed in pensions on December 1, while 1,08,000 spouse pensions were sanctioned after the coalition government came to power.
Not a single spouse pension was given during the previous YSRCP government, he claimed.
"Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu personally distributes pensions to the beneficiaries," Ravindra said.
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AI, AI Express look to add capacity amid IndiGo flight disruptions
New Delhi (PTI): Air India Group is looking to add capacity to help passengers impacted by the IndiGo flight disruptions.
"Since 4 December, economy class airfares on non-stop domestic flights have been proactively capped to prevent the usual demand-and-supply mechanism being applied by revenue management systems," a statement said on Saturday.
Both Air India and Air India Express have put in place caps on economy class fares.
ALSO READ: IndiGo cancels over 200 flights from Delhi, Mumbai on Saturday
The statement from Air India came hours after the government announced introduction of airfare caps amid IndiGo flight disruptions.
Air India also said it is not technically possible to cap fares for all flight permutations.
"Air India and Air India Express are seeking to add capacity to help travellers and their baggage reach their destinations as quickly as possible," the statement said.
