Currently, states pay anything between Rs 200 and Rs 2,000 as public pensions.Should public pensions be universal or targeted? Opinion across both states was unanimous that public pension should be extended to all elderly and should be initiated earlier than at age 60 years. Majority (83 per cent) of respondents from Gujarat were in agreement with those from Rajasthan (81 per cent). These pensions did not allow elderly Indians working in the unorganised sector, who need public pensions the most, to retire. Elderly respondents singly taking care of themselves consistently quoted a smaller amount than the ones being taken care of by family.

Source: Economic Times June 14, 2017 08:26 UTC