Tamil Nadu Timeline

WelfareMadras State (Congress era)

Madras State starts an old-age pension scheme

· Chennai

A monthly pension for destitute old people was introduced by the state, decades ahead of the national old-age pension of 1995.

Since 1 April 1962 the Madras government has operated its Old Age Pension (Normal) Scheme. Payments went to destitute people of 65 or older, or 60 if incapacitated, who had no one to support them and little property of their own. Similar pensions were added over time for widows, deserted wives, agricultural labourers and persons with disabilities. In 1995, when the Centre started the National Social Assistance Programme, the state merged those funds into its existing pension instead of running a separate scheme alongside.

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