<span style="color: #222222;">Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, while presenting the budget for 2022-23 in the state assembly, today announced to increase the old age social security pension from Rs. 1001 to Rs. 1500.<br />''</span><br />''Presenting his fifth and last budget for the next financial year of the present government, Thakur announced to reduce the age limit for receiving such pension from 70 years to 60 years without any income limit.<br />''<br />''The chief minister also announced to increase the Member of Legislative Assembly Local Area Development Scheme (MLALAD) fund from the existing 1.80 crore to 2 crores.<br />''<br />''The MLALAD fund has been increased by Rs. 20 lakh in the last budget before the next Assembly elections scheduled to be held in December.<br />''<br />''Thakur stated that a total of Rs. 90 lakh increase had been made in the MLALAD fund during his government.<br />''The chief minister also announced to increase the discretionary grant for MLAs from 10 lakh to 12 lakh per annum for the next fiscal.<br />''<br />''<br />''<span style="color: #222222;">Talking about health, the CM declared to create 500 new posts of doctors in the state. Thakur announced that a provision would be made under which Himcare card would need to be renewed after three years instead of every year to avail free health services for various ailments.</span><br />