Himachal Cancer Patient Receives Old Pension 11 Years After Retiring, Set to Get Rs 18,000 Every Month Kangra resident Ratni Devi, who retired in 2015 without pension coverage, will now receive Rs 18,000 every month under Himachal Pradesh's revived Old Pension Scheme. Retirees previously left without social security coverage in Himachal Pradesh are witnessing significant financial relief following the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme. In a notable instance emerging from Dharamshala in Kangra district, 70-year-old Ratni Devi is finally set to receive monthly financial assistance more than a decade after stepping down from service. Battling cancer and having retired from the education department 11 years ago, she had received no pension benefits upon her exit. She expressed deep appreciation to Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu after being granted Rs 18,000 per month under the restored system. A Decade of Waiting After Decades in Government Service Ratni Devi dedicated a substantial portion of her life to public service, spending 15 years working in the forest department before joining the education department. She retired in 2015 from High School Satuan, but under the prevailing pension norms at the time, she was left without any recurring post-retirement financial support. Rajinder Manhas, head of the New Pension Scheme Association in Kangra district, shared a video of his conversation with her, highlighting her long-standing battle. Manhas stated that Ratni Devi is receiving cancer treatment, and their employee association had taken up her case as early as 2017-18 while regularly visiting her home during festive occasions. Document Formalities Completed for Next Month's Payout With her pension sanction formally cleared, she visited the association office to finalize the remaining administrative formalities. The required documentation has been assembled, ensuring that regular monthly disbursements will commence next month. Shifting from receiving zero pension to getting Rs 18,000 every single month will help her cover vital medical expenses and sustain her daily living expenses with dignity. A relieved Ratni Devi stated that she holds no grievances against the administration now that the restored pension scheme has secured her later years. From Electoral Pledge to Administrative Rollout The restoration of the Old Pension Scheme was a key electoral commitment made during the 2022 Himachal Pradesh assembly elections. Following the change in leadership, the state administration issued a formal gazette notification on April 17, 2023, to restore the scheme for state personnel. Approximately 1.30 lakh state government employees have been brought under this umbrella. State data indicates that over the three-year period leading up to January 31, 2026, old pension benefits were disbursed to 9,739 retired officers and employees, while family pensions were extended to 1,656 households of deceased government workers. What this means for you Securing old pension benefits even years after retirement provides a stable monthly financial shield for elderly citizens and their families. • In Himachal Pradesh: Around 1.30 lakh active government personnel and thousands of retirees gain access to predictable post-service monthly cash flows. Official figures show 9,739 retirees and 1,656 bereaved families received pensions by January 2026. • In Kangra: For elderly beneficiaries battling severe illnesses, an assured payout of Rs 18,000 every month directly cushions high medical bills. This reduces financial dependence on relatives and ensures uninterrupted medical care. • For Pension Claimants: Completing verified documentation unlocks monthly bank transfers starting from the subsequent month. Eligible pensioners must keep their departmental records and service proofs updated. • For Dependent Families: The inclusion of family pension provisions extends safety nets to households of deceased government employees. It ensures domestic expenses and necessities remain funded despite the loss of a breadwinner. Why this happened This development occurred because of a policy reversal reinstating the traditional pension structure for eligible former government staff. • Policy Implementation: Fulfilling an electoral commitment from the 2022 assembly elections, the state issued a formal notification on April 17, 2023, restoring the Old Pension Scheme. This legal mandate enabled unassisted former staff to seek pension inclusion. • Employee Advocacy: The New Pension Scheme Association championed Ratni Devi's case consistently since 2017-18. Prolonged advocacy by employee representatives ensured her service history and medical hardships remained visible to authorities. • Document Verification: Formal clearance required final procedural steps and document completion handled at the association office. Resolving these verification details cleared the bureaucratic path for payouts starting next month. Questions & Answers 1. Who is Ratni Devi and what benefit has she received? Ratni Devi is a 70-year-old cancer patient who retired from the education department and has now been granted benefits under Himachal Pradesh's Old Pension Scheme. 2. How much monthly pension will Ratni Devi receive? She will receive Rs 18,000 per month, whereas she had received zero pension for the past 11 years. 3. Which departments did Ratni Devi serve during her career? She served in the forest department for 15 years before eventually retiring from High School Satuan in 2015. 4. When did Himachal Pradesh notify the Old Pension Scheme? The state government issued the formal notification implementing the Old Pension Scheme on April 17, 2023. 5. How many retirees have benefited from the scheme in the state? By January 31, 2026, over the previous three years, 9,739 retirees received old pension benefits and 1,656 families received family pensions. https://trendkia.com/en/himachal-pradesh/himachala-men-kainsara-pirita-bujurga-mahila-ko-11-sala-bada-purani-penshana-ka-sahara-khate-men-aenge-hara-maha-18000-rupaye-44531 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.