Pension of those who retired before 1993 to be hiked in Karnataka

Employees in the age group of 80-85 would get a 20 per cent hike, 85-90 years 30 per cent hike and those above 90 years, a 50 per cent hike. In the event of the death of retired employees, benefits would go to their family members, Home Minister Dr V S Acharya told reporters while briefing them about today's cabinet meet.

The enhaned pension would be with retrospective effect from April one, 2006, he said. Acharya said the cabinet decided to extend the special allowances given to doctors of Health and Family Welfare department hospitals to that of doctors employed in ESI.

Doctors working in casualty wings would get Rs 3,000 per month, Diploma holders Rs 6,000 per month, Postgraduate holders Rs 8,000 and Specialists Rs 10,000. The hike would cost Rs 3.80 crore annually and the Centre would chip in Rs 2.80 crore, Acharya said.

The meeting also approved a proposal to seek Rs 2038 crore loan assistance from Asian Development Bank for developing nine National Highways. It was also decided to develop 20 km of road in each of the 189 rural assembly constituencies, he said adding under the scheme 3,780 kms of road would be developed at a cost of Rs 28 lakh per kilometre.

Teaching staff in 21 government aided B.Ed colleges in the state would get UGC payscales, he said.