Dehradun, April 17 -- Reviewing various public welfare schemes under the Social Welfare Department, Minister Khajan Das today urged all department employees to work to the best of their abilities, with mutual coordination and responsibility, to improve the department's progress. Under pension schemes, he announced a 25 percent increase in widow and disabled pensions from Rs 1,500 to Rs 1,875. He also directed officials to prepare necessary proposals to increase the Tilu Rauteli pension from Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,500, and to increase the disability maintenance grant from Rs 700 to Rs 1,000.

The Social Welfare Minister directed the strengthening of verification procedures related to scholarship schemes, stating that no errors in scholarship sch...