Chandigarh: Tewari raises alarm on UT’s welfare crisis, veterans’ rights

Highlighting the plight of the vulnerable sections, MP Tewari said that old-age pension, widow pension and disability pension has not been disbursed

Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari on Thursday expressed his “extreme dismay” over the non-allocation of funds for the social security pension in Chandigarh since October 2025. Speaking in the Lok Sabha, MP Tewari reminded the House that Chandigarh, being a Union Territory directly under the central government, receives annual allocations of ₹6,500– ₹6,900 crore in the Union Budget. “However, it is very unfortunate that since October 2025, there has been no allocation for the Social Security Pension in Chandigarh”, he said.

Tewari urged that the social security pension in Chandigarh should be allocated without any delay. (HT File)

Highlighting the plight of the vulnerable sections, MP Tewari said that old-age pension, widow pension and disability pension has not been disbursed. “It is being said that there is no budget and the allocation will be made in May, when the funds will be available”, he added. He further noted that Chandigarh provides the lowest pension support at ₹1,000, compared to ₹1,500 in Punjab and ₹3,500 in Haryana.

Tewari brought to the note of the House that Chandigarh is home to a large number of ex-servicemen, who have served the country with great honour and valour, while safeguarding our frontiers at the peril of their lives, adding, “But it is extremely unfortunate that in the Finance Bill 2026, paragraph 108, page 88, the income tax exemption on service element plus disability has been restricted to only those servicemen, who have been invalidated out of service.” Terming this as a clear constitutional breach of Article 14 of the Constitution, Tewari said, “Article 14 of the Indian Constitution is being directly violated.”