DW BUREAU / shimla The state government has accorded top priority for health and social welfare sectors. During the regime of previous government the age limit for availing the benefit of old age pension was 80 years. Present government after assuming the office, in its first cabinet meeting, reduced the age limit to 70 years. Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur was addressing on the occasion of Tridev Sammelan held at Chambi in Kangra district today. He said the age limit for old age pension has now been curtailed to 60 years. He said that women of the state had played vital role in empowering the family and society. Even during the peak of COVID pandemic, women showed their endeavor and came forward to make available lacs of hand-made cloth masks to facilitate the masses. He said the government has also fulfilled its announcement made on the occasion of state-level Himachal Day function held at Chamba and now only 50 percent of the bus fare would be charged from women during intra-state travelling in HRTC buses. The state Cabinet has also accorded its nod. Detailing the benefits of ambitious Ayushman Bharat Yojna, Chief Minister said that financial assistance amounting to over Rs. 154 crore has been given to the beneficiaries of the state. Supplementing the Ayushman Bharat Yojna, the state government launched Mukhya Mantri Himachal Health Care Yojna to cover those families which were not covered under Ayushman Bharat Yojna. Over 2.40 lakh beneficiaries have been benefited by spending Rs. 218 crore, he added. He said under PM Ujjawala Yojna which was started in the year of 2016, over 1.37 lakh families have been covered, while Mukhya Mantri Grihini Suvidha Yojna has also benefited 3.31 lakh families. Himachal Pradesh has become the first smoke-free state in the country where every household is having LPG connection now. The Cabinet has also approved free domestic water supply in rural areas and two free LPG cylinders to the beneficiaries of Mukhya Mantri Grihini Suvidha Yojna. Earlier, Chief Minister welcomed Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani on her arrival at Kangra airport. Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Sarveen Chaudhary, Forest Minister Rakesh Pathania, MPs Kishan Kapoor and Indu Goswami, MP and State BJP President Suresh Kashyap, Deputy Speaker HP Vidhan Sabha Dr. Hans Raj and MLAs from Kangra were also present on the occassion. (editor@dailyworld.in)