Chennai: AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday increased the pension to ulemas and announced a Rs three crore financial assistance to the state Wakf Board besides doubling the annual subsidy to the Haj Committee.
Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has ordered increasing the amount payable under the Ulema Pension Scheme from Rs 750 to Rs 1,000 and also increased the number of beneficiaries from 2,400 to 2,600, a state government release said.
This would cost the government a sum of Rs 3.12 crore annually, it said. The CM sanctioned Rs three crore for Wakf Board, which implements various welfare measures for the Muslims, as it was short on funds and even unable to disburse retirement benefits to its former employees, the release said.
The Hajj Committee was also suffering due to shortage of funds and in order to meet its expenses, the chief minister increased the annual government subsidy from Rs 10 to Rs 20 lakh, it said. (PTI)