Central government pensioners to get three months' pension in advance. Senior citizens, differently-abled, widows will get three-month advance pension in the first week of April, officials said on Friday, according to PTI.

The announcement comes in the wake of a slew of relief measures proposed by the government to combat the outbreak of novel coroanvirus in India.

Under the National Social Assistance Program, beneficiaries of the advanced pension plan would include 2.98 crore pensioners, according to the officials.

As per the NSAP, ₹200 per month is given to senior citizens from 60-79 years of age and ₹500 per month to 80 years and above.

An amount of ₹300 per month is given to the widows in the age group of 40-79 years and ₹500 to 80 years and above.

For the differently-abled, the pension is fixed at ₹300 per month up to 79 years of age and ₹500 for 80 years and above.

On Thursday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced ₹1.7-trillion package for the poor hit by the lockdown that went effective from 25 March, 2020 for 21 days. Centre rolled out the relief package, amounting to about 1% of its gross domestic product, marking an aggressive attempt to limit the economic damage caused by the virus and tackle the loss of livelihood of millions of poor.

Making a series of announcements on cash transfers for various sections of the society, Sitharaman said that the eligible senior citizens, widows and handicapped, a one-time amount ₹1,000 will be transferred in two installments over the next three months, benefitting 30 million people.

With inputs from PTI

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